Archaeologists Trace 1,000‑Year‑Old Cacao Trade from Central America to Georgia

University of South Carolina researchers uncovered potsherds from an 11th‑century feast at the Mississippian site of Etowah, north of Atlanta, that contain chemical residues and ancient DNA from Theobroma cacao. The findings confirm that the Mississippian people traded cacao—grown only in tropical regions—over distances of at least 3,000 kilometers. The presence of cacao in elite feasts suggests it may have played a role in the construction of the region’s ceremonial mounds. The study highlights the extent of pre‑Columbian trade networks across North America and provides new evidence of complex social and economic systems in the Mississippian culture.