Signs of chocolate found in Southwest much earlier
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-cacao3-2009feb03,0,6521359.story
Cacao, the staple of Valentine's Day chocolates and hot drinks by a cozy winter fire, made it to the American Southwest by AD 1000, centuries earlier than researchers had believed.
In a study published Monday, scientists said they had found traces of theobromine, the chemical that serves as a distinct marker for cacao, on pottery shards found in a multistory pueblo in northwestern New Mexico.
"This should open a much broader discussion about interactions between Mesoamerica and the Southwest," said archaeologist Keith Prufer of the University of New Mexico, who was not involved in the research. "We've had these discussions before, but this presents a new take on it."
Traces of the cacao were found in shards from cylinder jars found at Pueblo Bonito in Chaco Canyon in northwestern New Mexico. The site was occupied by the Chaco culture for millenniums, but it grew rapidly beginning about AD 900.
Cacao, the staple of Valentine's Day chocolates and hot drinks by a cozy winter fire, made it to the American Southwest by AD 1000, centuries earlier than researchers had believed.
In a study published Monday, scientists said they had found traces of theobromine, the chemical that serves as a distinct marker for cacao, on pottery shards found in a multistory pueblo in northwestern New Mexico.
"This should open a much broader discussion about interactions between Mesoamerica and the Southwest," said archaeologist Keith Prufer of the University of New Mexico, who was not involved in the research. "We've had these discussions before, but this presents a new take on it."
Traces of the cacao were found in shards from cylinder jars found at Pueblo Bonito in Chaco Canyon in northwestern New Mexico. The site was occupied by the Chaco culture for millenniums, but it grew rapidly beginning about AD 900.