theres a youtube vid with the same title. very interesting.
1 Like
There is proof Yaupon leaves that contain caffeine were traded all the way from the south to Near central IL. (by saint Louis MO about 10 miles East) (at bottom of this post see image of Illex vomitica / I. cassine )
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1208404109
Abstract
-Chemical analyses of organic residues in fragments of pottery from the large site of Cahokia and surrounding smaller sites in Illinois reveal theobromine, caffeine, and ursolic acid, biomarkers for species of Ilex (holly) used to prepare the ritually important Black Drink. As recorded during the historic period, men consumed Black Drink in portions of the American Southeast for ritual purification. This first demonstrated discovery of biomarkers for Ilex occurs in beaker vessels dating between A.D. 1050 and 1250 from Cahokia, located far north of the known range of the holly species used to prepare Black Drink during historic times. The association of Ilex and beaker vessels indicates a sustained ritual consumption of a caffeine-laced drink made from the leaves of plants grown in the southern United States.
There are a few replies I disagree with here
One being the prairies needed to be managed with fire
The native Americans did practice fire suppression ,
but if Buffalo roamed the prairies that will prevent treeās from being established ā¦
(it happens in Africaās prairies with large Herbivores )
I am only replying quickly , but interesting enough long ago (BC) corn was breed for the sugar content more so then the grain.
I did see that one on the T.V,
but now at least Iāve learned how to read off the USDA about old articles on native Americans even some documented by Native Americans (you just have to type in the code given)
Richard, and others thanks for the link I havenāt read it yet just posting quickly
will express my thoughts later.
(not much here about Cahokia mounds , but here are some pictures
These Mounds also follow a Moon cycle
https://cahokiamounds.org/gallery/
(and video)
https://cahokiamounds.org/
2 Likes
Very interesting. One of my favorite books in Spanish, Naufragio, documents the 3rd unsuccessful Spanish attempt to colonize Tampa and Alvaroās trek from Tampa bay to the Mexican western sierra madre mountains. This book documents his experience as a captive, and witness to the native North American pharmacotheon. From (1)Taino paraphernalia used in divining rituals in Florida, through his (2) thornapple initiation by peoples of the south east, to the people in the SouthWest collecting (3)ādeer heartsā for their cultural sustenance. In the last location, Alvaro, as a good Catholic, was prosthelitizing about his savior and most powerful god. The people agreed, there was one all powerful being, and his name is Jaguar. This is the 1st reference of the term jaguar, and it is of the Nahuatl language, 1542. Any ideas as to the 3 plants?
2 Likes
Hey good link I am glad they brought up using lime to prepare corn
other places you will see you get Pellagra (from a vitamin B deficiency)
Not if preparing corn with lime it unlocks the vitamin B
(I quote about them speculating about preparing rock hard native knot weed seeds)
" Another possibility is that the seeds were soaked in lime before being turned into a hominy-style porridge. Ancient Americans used limeāthe chemical, not the fruitāto soften the hulls of maize before cooking it, in a technique called nixtamalization "
They also brought up Cahokia Mounds (in IL )
(in my post #42 about trading yaupon leaves from the south)
There is also Mounds in Wisconsin as well
All this stuff about Plants keep in mind Suet or Animal fat mixed with fruits nuts, and other dried plant matter was also a food source for winter storage , and travel even Inner tree pulp of certain species can be used as a starch source for bread making or porridge.
I want to get some huauzontle Chenopodium nuttalliae
(related to lambs quarters like broccoli )
I am modifying my statement actually on 3rd link (also has Amaranth )
(saw it looking for a tobacco link on pc history
see solanum seed site see # 4 plenty of seeds here as well)
Kind of late in the season, but here are some wild relatives of corn teosinte
and some to buy already prepared
#3
Here are some different Tobacco seeds
Aztec tobacco Nicotiana rustica .
It has the highest levels of nicotine of any tobacco species, potentially containing up to twenty times more then nicotiana tabacum, the species used in commercial cigarettes.-- Tobaccos | World Seed Supply
I do read the Christian bible, but do find the other cultures in interesting as well see comment on Mayan bible (another topic.)
Not sure as I am not wanting to take the time (see below in bold)
(zz top /collective soul concert later
I didnāt plan on it just found out, and need sleep that Iām not going to get )
the word for Jaguar is ocelotl
I didnāt see anything here listed other then the animal
I may check USDA (codes)
Indians/Native Americans | National Archives -
https://search.archives.gov/search?query=ocelotl&submit=&utf8=&affiliate=national-archives
DOES it have something to do with
https://web.ics.purdue.edu/~kdickson/azteccosmogsh.html
ā macehuales subsist on pinon nuts eat a seed called
acicintli (= water lily
ācornlike kernel called cincocopi. (ancient form of maize )
Or variation
ā From his hair springs cotton;
from his ears, several plants; from his nose, chia;
from his fingers, sweet potato;
from his nails, a variety of maize;
from the rest of his body, many other food plants.]
I have not looked into it, but have read part of the Mayan Bible years ago The Popol Vuh
(I have it in my emails also itās at the Newberry Chicago Library apparently )
https://www.newberry.org/popol-vuh-wuj-online
All this is a little off topic I actually have open lost plants from a while ago
I decided not to post it is a lot to take in all at once
But hey at least I did ALSO did find that Nursery with the tobacco , and posted ā¦
(Iāll forward you the lost plants for now)
All in all do not forget Insects it is short)
(site has some interesting animals listed)
https://web.archive.org/web/20210301040345/http://traditionalanimalfoods.org/insects/
Iād bet that the deer hearts were prickly pear
optunias. I read an account of the experiences of a Spaniard (Coronado?) Who lived with native peopleās along the gulf coast. They would migrate with the seasons. Following the food. In Summer they would eat optunias.
1 Like
Youāre definitely on the right trackā¦ but not quite. The people were the Huichol. And the plant is Lophopora williamsiiā¦
image by UNAM. National Mexican Autonomous University
2 Likes
I Learned of this as a edible food A parasite of dessert buckwheat from the USDA articles
(wrote around a century ago more or less)
buckwheat of the desert has a parasite that is edible
(I learned of on USDA OLD OLD stuff wrote about native Americans)
Sadly Off roaders are running them over without knowing " there there "
https://www2.palomar.edu/users/warmstrong/pholisma.htm
Funny how something destructive can be useful in the cycle of life or even poison can be life saving see next post on cyanide.
It basically has a smell animals are afraid of so they will not eat you.
(it is in story mode, but explains the use of plants that can be life giving that are not edible by warding off predatorsā¦)
Itās important to be fed it is also important not to be feed On!
As I slip into the night
Aimless seeking the mountain
No cloth cyanide centipede of a shield
large beast
in a fetal position
Like fog over stone I freeze
Lost; ā¦ Lost out of my mind
Blinded by the black forest of life
worms moss dust will I succumb
I do not seek the darkness
as into My conscious of A lie
Itās a tool Iām slipping
As I try to escape
you my desire
Which I honor ā¦
ā¦
Living in sin
God my savior
I turn my headā¦
-----ā¦
See being lost in the deep Colorado mountains
with a mountain Lion scat by your camp
Cyanide on your scent can be life giving
Amarillo smells of cyanide so if your drunk on that your good to goā¦
So not only Lost crops of food which can saveā¦
How do you eat peyote and not trip? Does cooking it render it non hallucinogenic? I didnāt realize it is endangered. D
Their sustenance is a cultural one, part of the corn, deer, peyote sacred Trinity.
1 Like
This is a very interesting thread. I thought of the Spanish explorer who was left by his ship and wandered for 7 years amongst the different native people. Cabeza de Vaca I think it was. He documented what they were eating. There are lots of old books now all available online about northeastern native tribes and what they grew and ate or used medicinally.
Amaranth is one of the most important staples of the Central Americans, they were forced out of growing it as the colonialists saw it as a problem because of the use of it in rituals. Itās a highly nutritional grain and easy to grow. That along with the hundreds of corns they bred all over the North and South American continents are two of the most useful grains. Choose a flour or flint corn that was local to you and you will have good corn. Sand Hill preservation has hundreds of native corns available in seed.
4 Likes
i planted 2 rows of 50 painted mountain cold hardy indian corn and in between those 2 rows i grew amaranth from baker seed. both are mature at the same time and have produced a large crop. the seed of the amaranth i planted literally covered the center of my palm! seeds not starting to come off the head yet but soon and the corn ill let dry on the stalk. i dont think ill get a lb. of seed off each amaranth like Baker creek claims as they were shaded by the corn for some time but i bet a half lb. is realistic. both grew great very close together in mounds on my clay soil, top dressed with chicken manure then wood chips. i never watered them or gave more fertilizer. just grown on a cardboard covered section of my lawn. its like they were designed to grow together which the ancient natives likely did im very impressed! i will upscale this next year 5x fold. bye bye lawn!
6 Likes
Check #42 on this thread