Ritual Black Drink consumption at Cahokia

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1208404109
• Publication Date: 2012-08-07T02:50:06Z
• Authors: Patricia L. Crown; Thomas E. Emerson; Jiyan Gu; W. Jeffrey Hurst; Timothy R. Pauketat; Timothy Ward
• Keywords: Beaker; Theobromine

Chemical analyses of organic residues in fragments pottery from the large site Cahokia and surrounding smaller sites Illinois reveal theobromine, caffeine, ursolic acid, biomarkers for species Ilex (holly) used to prepare ritually important Black Drink. As recorded during historic period, men consumed Drink portions American Southeast ritual purification. This first demonstrated discovery occurs beaker vessels dating between A.D. 1050 1250 Cahokia, located far north known range holly times. The association indicates a sustained consumption caffeine-laced drink made leaves plants grown southern United States.