Shaft and chamber tomb

They consist of a shaft dug into the outcrops of rock with a square or round chamber excavated at the bottom where the dead were placed.

These two areas have been discovered to have been similarly designed, in regards to, the ideology, religion, form, and geographical significance.

Items such as conch shells and shamanistic attributes (a horn being, associated with supernatural powers) were also stored in the tombs.

The Peruvian data claimed that the shamans were buried alongside shamanistic rites when they died.

Evidence is provided of this as these shells were painted on the Moche V stirrup spout vessels that originated from Peru.

Shaft tombs were normally found in three Western Mexican states: Jalisco, Nayarit, and Colima.

[5] In Jalisco the tombs found have figurines that are made from clay, have elongated faces and high foreheads.

These figures are called Chinnesco because their widely separate eyes give them a Chinese like appearance.

Tombs at Colima have hallow figures of animals, humans and plants which are made from warm brown slip (watery clay molded by hand).

Shaft tombs also contain other offerings such as pottery containing food, beads, crystals, jade and conch shells.

The pottery scenes and the wall drawings depict how sacrifice was a core component to the Moche and their beliefs.

It is assumed that there were ritual amputations performed to make sure that the warriors could not abandon their post in the afterlife.