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Ancient Chocolate Traces Found East of Mississippi
6 Oct
Summary
- Earliest known cacao traces east of Mississippi River found.
- Pottery analysis reveals cacao use around the 11th century.
- Discovery broadens understanding of pre-colonial trade networks.
New genetic analysis of pottery shards from the Etowah Indian Mounds, located northwest of Atlanta, has uncovered the earliest known evidence of cacao consumption east of the Mississippi River. This significant discovery, published in PLOS One, dates the presence of cacao in the region to around the 11th century.
The study indicates that cacao beans likely arrived at Etowah through extensive pre-colonial trade networks, which were more developed than previously understood. This finding prompts a re-evaluation of the connections between ancient American civilizations.
Researchers utilized mass spectrometry and ancient DNA analysis on pottery fragments. They detected compounds characteristic of cacao and identified its DNA, ensuring strict precautions against modern contamination. These findings suggest cacao played a role in Mississippian culture, possibly during celebratory feasts associated with mound construction.
This discovery challenges earlier theories that attributed Mississippian cultural complexity solely to external influences. It emphasizes the achievements of Indigenous peoples and opens new avenues for research into historical inter-civilization contacts.
