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The Moche (200-900 CE) were semi-autonomous communities that lived in fertile riverine valleys of Peru’s otherwise desert coast. They presented their complex ideology through detailed ceramics that feature a cast of repeated characters involved in standardized activities and rituals. Within these scenes, examples of wild plant species, cultigens, and medicinal plants all become consistent symbols. Breanna's research explores Moche’s keen interest in ecological observation, expressed in their ceramic imagery, and how exploring botanical imagery can bring insight into biomes and cultural practices. She inquires into the significance behind the inclusion of these botanical elements: What species could these botanical motifs represent, what information can these identifiable plants add to the larger narratives where they appear; and what kind of plant knowledge was required by the artists to paint and understand these symbols?