Cacao DNA Found in 1,000-Year-Old Etowah Pottery, Earliest East of the Mississippi

A study published on August 26 in PLOS One has uncovered the earliest evidence of cacao east of the Mississippi River through genetic analysis of pottery residues from the Etowah Indian Mounds in Georgia. The research, spearheaded by archaeologists Adam King and Terry Powis, discovered cacao DNA in two out of 31 sherds that were excavated in the 1950s, which date back to a feast occurring between 1050 and 1150 C.E. This finding indicates potential trade links between Georgia and Central America, possibly through direct exchanges from Chaco Canyon or along the Gulf Coast. Additionally, the pottery's distinct designs set them apart from Maya vessels, reigniting discussions about the relationships between Mississippian mound-building and Mesoamerican pyramids, emphasizing the interconnectedness of the Americas.