Female Figurine with Face and Body Markings c. 180 - 500

This is a ceramic figurine made by the Nazca people of ancient Peru. The painted markings on her face and body offer a glimpse into the social world of this culture. The Nazca civilization flourished in a desert environment where water was a precious resource, and its control and distribution were crucial for survival. The markings on this figurine might relate to fertility or agricultural rituals, reflecting a society deeply dependent on the earth's bounty. The care taken in the creation of the figurine suggests its importance within the community and in the institutional life of the culture. We can imagine it featuring in events or ceremonies linked to ancestral worship or the agricultural calendar. Archaeological reports can provide more information about how figurines like this were used. These insights, alongside the study of religious beliefs and ritual practices, can help us understand the figurine’s place within the wider Nazca social and institutional context.