Key Takeaways
- Cacao traces found in potsherds at Etowah, Georgia.
- Evidence suggests trade connections with Central America.
- Mississippian culture thrived in the southeastern U.S. before colonization.
- Connections to Chaco Canyon raise questions about trade networks.
Ancient Feasts in Georgia
One thousand years ago, the people of what is now northern Georgia were enjoying cacao from Central America during their feasts. Archaeological findings at Etowah, an Indigenous city located just north of modern Atlanta, reveal that potsherds from an 11th-century celebration contained traces of cacao, the key ingredient in chocolate. This discovery indicates that the Mississippian culture, known for its impressive earthen mounds, had trade routes extending over 3,000 kilometers to Central America.
Evidence of Trade
Archaeologist Adam King from the University of South Carolina and his team discovered ancient DNA from Theobroma cacao in the remnants of pottery used during feasts at Etowah. Cacao trees thrive only in tropical climates, meaning the nearest sources would have been a considerable distance away. This suggests that the Mississippians engaged in extensive trade networks, allowing them to access exotic goods.
Etowah was a significant hub of Mississippian culture, which flourished in the southeastern United States before European colonization. By 1350 CE, the city featured wooden palisades and towering earthen mounds, with the largest reaching six stories high. The feast studied by King and his colleagues occurred two centuries prior to the peak of Etowah, coinciding with the construction of its first major platform mound.
Analyzing the Findings
The excavation of the mound revealed a wealth of refuse from community feasts, including broken pottery. This provided a unique opportunity for archaeologists, as the unwashed dishes contained microscopic residues of ancient beverages. Mass spectrometry analysis identified chemical compounds associated with cacao, such as theobromine and caffeine, alongside compounds found in yaupon holly, a local plant used by Indigenous peoples for tea.
Despite the presence of yaupon, the researchers pursued evidence of cacao and successfully identified its DNA. This marks the first indication that Etowah had trade connections with the Maya civilization, suggesting that such networks were established even in the city’s early days.
Connections to Chaco Canyon
During the same period, people at Chaco Canyon in present-day New Mexico were also consuming cacao. Chaco Canyon served as a cultural and economic center in a region that was once much greener. At its height, it supported around 100,000 residents and featured multi-story stone buildings. The Ancestral Pueblo people there utilized trade routes to import various goods, including cacao.
While Chaco Canyon shows substantial evidence of trade with Central America, Etowah’s evidence is limited to cacao residue. This raises questions about whether Etowah received other exotic goods from Central America or the Southwest and what items they might have traded in return. The pathways through which cacao reached these locations remain unclear, whether through direct trade or a series of exchanges.
Future Research Directions
Current knowledge indicates that Chaco Canyon had a well-established trading network extending into Mexico and Central America. However, it is uncertain if Etowah’s cacao came from a northern route through Mexico or if it was part of a network involving Chaco Canyon.
King and his colleagues emphasize the need for further investigation into the connections between the Mississippian culture and other Indigenous groups, such as the Hohokam and Ancestral Pueblo peoples. Additionally, archaeological evidence suggests that southwestern cultures had interactions with Caddoan cultures in the region now known as Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas, indicating a complex web of trade and cultural exchange across the continent long before European colonization.
As research continues, it will be crucial to piece together the intricate trading relationships that existed among these ancient civilizations.
