Researchers discovered cacao residue and ancient DNA in potsherds from an 11th-century feast at Etowah, an Indigenous city in northern Georgia, proving Mississippian people had trade networks stretching over 3,000 km to Central America. The find predates Etowah's peak and suggests cacao may have played a role in building early social and ceremonial networks.
Background
The Mississippian culture was a major Native American civilization that flourished in the southeastern United States from approximately 800 to 1600 CE, known for its large earthen mounds and complex chiefdoms.
- Source
- Ars Technica
- Published
- Aug 27, 2026 at 10:22 PM
- Score
- 6.0 / 10