Ancient Andean drinking vessel known as a hero. a.d 800 - 1100. Ceramic cups in this flared shape were made for the consumption of alcoholic beverages during ritual occasions. This is the standard form for such vessels. Keros first appear in the Lake Titicaca region in the 4th or 5th century a.d. They remained in use virtually unchanged for more than 1,000 years until the early post-conquest period of the 1500's. Keros were made of ceramic, wood, metal and stone. Ceramic keros of this type from the Lake Titicaca Basin are uncommon - very few have been published in the literature or have found their way into museum or private collections.