This is a ceramic trumpet made by the Moche Indians of Peru in the 1st century BC.   The hands so gently holding it belong to Joe Peknik Technical Curator of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.  In June 2007,  Joe most kindly took my family on a behind the scene tour of the museum's extraordinary collection.  I even had the honor to try this ancient horn!

The Moche civilization  flourished in northern Peru from about 100 AD to 800 AD.   They are noted for the elaborate painted ceramics and pottery, gold work, and irrigation systems. The Moche primarily were farmers, who diverted rivers into a network of irrigation canals. Their culture was sophisticated, although they had no written language. Yet, their artifacts document their lives with detailed scenes of hunting, fishing, combat, punishment, sexual encounters and elaborate ceremonies- including ritual sacrifice.