A recent article in Mexicon describes preliminary results of a mass spectrometry investigation of plant residues inside of several bowls dating to the Olmec and Mokaya. The bowls date to the oldest civilizations in Mesoamerica; and in a couple of them were discovered Theobromine, the active ingredient of chocolate.
Figure with Chocolate Necklace, Tonina Archaeological Site (Maya civilization), Chiapas, Mexico. Photo by Jami Dwyer
The oldest bowl with evidence of Theobromine in it came from the Mokaya site of Paso de la Amada, located in southern Chiapas, Mexico, dated to between 1600 and 1900 BC. If that's right--we should look for a fuller publication of the site elsewhere--that's evidence for chocolate use nearly 700 years earlier than previously reported at Puerto Escondido, and 1500 years earlier than Colha. It cements the notion that the use of the wonderful stuff has been around for at least 3500 years.
Makes perfect sense to me.
Sources and Further Info
Powis, Terry G., et al. 2008 The origins of cacao use in Mesoamerica. Mexicon 30:35-38.
Comments
So women have been getting fat and using it as a substitute for a man for that long? Go figure.
That has got to be the dumbest comment I have ever received. Bar none. Congratulations!
I wouldn’t be surprised if they finally link chocolate with the rise of human civilisation. It is the elixer of life, after all.