Genetic sequencing confirmed cacao DNA on 11th–12th century pottery shards from Etowah, a major Mississippian center in Georgia. Earlier chemical tests were inconclusive since the same markers appear in Yaupon Holly used for the ceremonial 'black drink.' This is the first evidence of cacao east of the Mississippi!
DNA confirms Mississippian cacao consumption at Etowah, Georgia, around 1000 years ago
Key facts
- Genetic sequencing of ceramic residue from pottery shards at Etowah (Georgia, USA) confirmed cacao DNA
- Shards dated to the 11th–12th century CE, found in fill pits of the site's earliest earthen mound, linked to communal feasting
- Earlier chemical testing was inconclusive because the same markers appear in Yaupon Holly, used for the ceremonial 'black drink'
- Etowah was one of the most important Mississippian centers, peaking in the 14th century CE
- First evidence of cacao consumption east of the Mississippi River, extending known pre-Columbian cacao trade networks
Site mentioned
📍 Etowah🌍 Show on the globe
Sources
Cacao DNA in Etowah Pottery Puts Chocolate in the ...anthropology.net
Cacao DNA in Etowah Pottery Puts Chocolate in the Mississippian World. Ancient DNA from two 900-year-old sherds in Georgia does what residue ...
Cacao in the Mississippian World: Archaeogenomic evidence ...journals.plos.org
We present evidence that samples from two Etowah Complicated Stamped pottery sherds recovered from 11th to 12th century contexts at the Etowah site in the ...
Ancient DNA reveals cacao was consumed in present-day ...phys.org
The team studied three 800- to 900-year-old Etowah pottery sherds recovered. They sequenced the DNA found in the ancient residue taken from the ...
Ancient DNA from 800- to 900-year-old Etowah pottery ...threads.com
Ancient DNA from 800- to 900-year-old Etowah pottery confirms cacao was consumed in present-day Georgia about 1,000 years ago.
Yaupon teaen.wikipedia.org
Native peoples used yaupon tea as a social drink in council meetings and it was offered to guests as a hospitable drink. They also used it as a medicinal tea.
Keep exploring
Every site on this page sits on the globe, and the people who research them are on the Discord.
3D Globe · Sites by country · Story Archive · Research Library · Weekly Journal · Search
AI-generated text · images from the original sources · always verify with the sources.