Among the earliest depictions of decapitation as human sacrifice in ancient Peru are ceramic bottles from the Cupisnique culture. This example shows the partially severed head resting on the upper back, balancing the arms and legs that are drawn up on the opposite side. The incised marking on the rib cage shows the indications of bloodletting commonly found on images of shamans. This vessel may represent a shaman dying and entering a new life in the spirit world.
