Vessel in the form of a man

This man wears face paint and a turban that are typical of Nazca adornments. Although his body is shapeless, his teeth are finely detailed, as is the trophy head in his hands. The painting surrounding the vessel's lower half is an elegant rendering in many colors of fish, starfish, and octopuses. Carefully preserved heads have been found in Nazca burials. Shown in art throughout the Nazca era, they are called trophy heads because they are assumed to be the products of war. Whether these heads represented conquered peoples or were associated with a ritual use is unclear.