Open AccessRitual Black Drink consumption at Cahokia
Author(s) -
Patricia L. Crown,
Thomas E. Emerson,
Jiyan Gu,
W. Jeffrey Hurst,
Timothy R. Paüketat,
Timothy J. Ward
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.1208404109
Subject(s) - archaeology , beaker , theobromine , pottery , geography , caffeine , range (aeronautics) , biology , endocrinology , materials science , composite material
Chemical analyses of organic residues in fragments of pottery from the large site of Cahokia and surrounding smaller sites in Illinois reveal theobromine, caffeine, and ursolic acid, biomarkers for species ofIlex (holly) used to prepare the ritually important Black Drink. As recorded during the historic period, men consumed Black Drink in portions of the American Southeast for ritual purification. This first demonstrated discovery of biomarkers forIlex occurs in beaker vessels dating between A.D. 1050 and 1250 from Cahokia, located far north of the known range of the holly species used to prepare Black Drink during historic times. The association ofIlex and beaker vessels indicates a sustained ritual consumption of a caffeine-laced drink made from the leaves of plants grown in the southern United States.
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