Although it may seem hard to believe, most Peruvians and tourists know very little about the different pre-Columbian cultures of Peru, except for the Inca Empire and its iconic citadel: Machu Picchu. Many were not even aware that there were dozens of cultures in Peru prior to the Incas, and that they had a significant influence on them. The Moche Culture, which dominated northern coastal Peru from AD 100 to 700. C., is one of these impressive ancient civilizations. The finding of the Lord of Sipan consists of a completely intact tomb of a Moche ruler, considered one of the most transcendental archaeological discoveries of Peru and America.