Ritual Black Drink consumption at Cahokia

Chemical analysis of pottery fragments from Cahokia Mounds and surrounding sites in Illinois has revealed biomarkers for Ilex (holly) species, indicating the consumption of Black Drink—a ritually significant caffeine-laced beverage—between A.D. 1050 and 1250. This discovery marks the first evidence of Ilex use beyond its historic range, suggesting that Cahokia’s inhabitants sustained a ritual practice involving this southern plant. The study identified theobromine, caffeine, and ursolic acid in beaker vessels, linking them to the preparation and consumption of Black Drink, which was historically documented for its purifying properties among men in the American Southeast.

Crown, P. L., Emerson, T. E., Gu, J., Hurst, W. J., Pauketat, T. R., & Ward, T. (2012). Ritual Black Drink consumption at Cahokia. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109(35), 13944–13949. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1208404109