A culture that developed (c.200–700 ad) in the Moche and Chicam valleys of Peru. The earliest major civilization on the northern coast, it expanded into adjacent valleys, but was eventually eclipsed by the Huari culture to the south. Its rulers built huge pyramids of adobe bricks, known as Huaca del Sol (Temple of the Sun) and Huaca de la Luna (Temple of the Moon), south of Trujillo, which were painted with polychrome murals. They also constructed extensive irrigation works and fortifications round their ceremonial centres. Craftsmen mass-produced pottery bottles and bowls, including fine-quality water jars, painted with a variety of religious, military, and everyday scenes and its metal-smiths produced cast, alloyed, and gilded artefacts.