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Ancestors Nearly 2,000 Years Ago Used Caffeine Via Holly, Cacao

drinking vessel from the Grasshopper Pueblo
(Photo courtesy of Patricia Crown)
An example of a drinking vessel from the Grasshopper Pueblo archaeological site in central Arizona.

When it comes to getting that jolt of caffeine to get the day started or knock out the afternoon blahs, modern men and women aren’t that different from our ancestors.

Though they didn’t have drive-thru windows, people nearly 2,000 years ago used caffeine via holly and cacao. That discovery was just made by a team led by University of New Mexico anthropology professor Patricia Crown.

Steve Goldstein was a host at KJZZ from 1997 to 2022.