Mochica Lime Containers

Room 8, Vitrine 102

Gilded copper and copper-silver alloy
Raising, casting and soldering
Peruvian Northern Coast
Florescent Epoch (1 AD – 800 AD)
ML001059, ML100612, ML100723

The ceremonial chewing of coca leaves has been practiced in the Andes since ancient times. These recipients contained the lime with which the coca leaves were mixed. The lime was extracted with a stick which was then placed in the mouth of the person chewing the leaves, where it acted as a catalyst in the extraction of the alkaloid components of the coca leaf.