Cacao Origins

 

During the classical period (c.250-900AD), scholars assumed that Mayans decorated cylinder vessels which we presumed were the tools used to drink chocolate. In the modern age, the assumption is that all cylinder shaped objects are used for some form of liquid whether it be consumed or meant to contain a liquid. However, we need to re-think these ideas about the Maya using cylindrical objects. The Mayan cylinder vessels look presumably as such liquids holders used for drinking and consumption. However, when we look at certain types of these vessels with also the history of behaviors by the elites in Mayan society this is not the case. The Mayans did not use decorated cylinder vessels for drinking but actually for the storage of essential items. First by using modern technology to determine that these vessels were actually used to store cacao and maize, then we examine the portraits of cacao and maize used by elites in Mayan society.  There are different types of cups used by the Mayan and this essay will focus on the small narrow used cup. 

Maize and Cacao were of high importance to the Maya especially in a spiritual sense as the Mayans respected certain foods to be Gods. Thus, it is likely Mayans were using these vessels for storage purposes of Cacao beans and Maize. Cacao beans were used for consumption, either with hot water or with some sort of liquid that would need to occur to make a drink.

The cylinder vessels were a powerful visual element, serving as containers and also a symbol of the food from the gods especially for those in the elite class. The importance of these cylinder vessels were for events and food. Very few images depict the elites of Mayan society drinking, and most that do depict these images are usually through very small cylinder vessels. The few images of the elites suggest that the elite are acting in the image of a god and these food vessels were presented as items for ritual. An explanation as to why they were put in small cylinder cups may come from the fact they showed signs of wear consistent with non-liquid contents and the maya may have used these cylinders to store the dried cacao beans and added to a drink base for fermentation. These cacao beans which are held in liquid cylinders can be stored for longer periods than cacao liquid and can be made into a cacao liquid from mixing it with water. 

 When using modern technology these vessels revealed a lack of residue. Alkaloid biomarkers would have been identified in the sampled vessels during the evaluations which identify the chemicals for a liquid substance. The texts which depict the terms "cacao"(kakaw) and "drinking" ( 'uk'iib') should be reexamined as the lack of residue in the vessels demonstrate a purpose other than cacao consumption. Since this was during the classical period it is highly likely that the cacao beans did not have dry powder processed from it which results in a liquid concoction for the drinking of cacao. 

The Mayan Vessels were most likely used for storing than for the purpose of drinking a liquid.The shape of the vessels is very similar to personal objects used by a Mayan Elite.The shape that mayan elites held was similar to that of what we use as a cup in modern society. Usually vessels were designed to address the status of a royal or an elite. The Mayans did use some of these vessels for drinking cacao, just they mostly stored the cacao as they did not have access to modern technology like refrigerators, so they had to come up with creative ways to make the cacao last longer. Although, there is an association with the shape of the vessels and the assumption it was used for only drinking cacao the evidence reveals that they were also used to store goods. 

In conclusion, the cylinder vessels were used for a dry content of Cacao and Maize. The Mayans did not use these cylinder vessels for drinking but for the storage of essential items. The Mayans may have used some cylinder vessels for drinking but for the elite class of society the cylinder vessels served as a purpose for rituals and storage of cacao which is a product made from nature so it can dissolve over time. By using modern technology to determine that these vessels were used to store cacao and maize,then examining the depictions of cacao and maize used by elites in Mayan society. The Mayans were able to delay this problem by putting the cacao beans in sealed cylinders. 

Bibliography: 

Loughmiller-Cardinal, Jennifer. “DISTINGUISHING THE USES, FUNCTIONS, AND PURPOSES OF CLASSIC MAYA ‘CHOCOLATE’ CONTAINERS: NOT ALL CUPS ARE FOR DRINKING.” Ancient Mesoamerica 30, no. 1 (2019): 13–30. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0956536117000359.