I was working in Cajamarquilla (a peruvian site in Lima) where I had the opportunity of analize materials from a funerary context there I was found a collar made of entire fruits of Chile pepper or "aji" (Capsicum sp.) but there were other collars made of other entire fruits  like peanuts and corn. This context was associated  to Lima Culture (100- 400 bC).

Unfortunately I didnt have a camera in that moment (it was in 2001)  because the analize was fast, I wil try to contact the project manager to send the complete information.

The other sites where I was working only could observe chile peppers in domestic context. 

 
Enrique Buenaventura Bellido Cerda
Laboratorio Privado de Arqueobotanica
movil: (0511) 997653624

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Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2011 13:49:02 -0500
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Chile seeds
To: [log in to unmask]

Good afternoon-

I am currently working on a manuscript that discusses the ancient use of chile peppers in the Americas.  In recent years at the SAA meetings, I have listened to reports of charred seeds from various sites, and I am hoping that some of these finds have been subsequently published so I can cite them.  I am unable to find any recent references in the library databases, and would appreciate any help.

Cheers-

Linda Perry

Executive Director
The Foundation for Archaeobotanical Research in Microfossils
PO Box 37
Fairfax VA 22038
703-625-0361