@article{fdi:010074745,
  title = {{T}he use and domestication of {T}heobroma cacao during the mid-{H}olocene in the upper {A}mazon},
  author = {{Z}arrillo, {S}. and {G}aikwad, {N}. and {L}anaud, {C}. and {P}owis, {T}. and {V}iot, {C}. and {L}esur, {I}. and {F}ouet, {O}. and {A}rgout, {X}. and {G}uichoux, {E}. and {S}alin, {F}. and {S}olorzano, {R}. {L}. and {B}ouchez, {O}. and {V}ignes, {H}. and {S}everts, {P}. and {H}urtado, {J}. and {Y}epez, {A}. and {G}rivetti, {L}. and {B}lake, {M}. and {V}aldez, {F}rancisco},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{C}acao ({T}heobroma cacao {L}.) is an important economic crop, yet studies of its domestication history and early uses are limited. {T}raditionally, cacao is thought to have been first domesticated in {M}esoamerica. {H}owever, genomic research shows that {T}. cacao's greatest diversity is in the upper {A}mazon region of northwest {S}outh {A}merica, pointing to this region as its centre of origin. {H}ere, we report cacao use identified by three independent lines of archaeological evidence-cacao starch grains, absorbed theobromine residues and ancient {DNA}-dating from approximately 5,300 years ago recovered from the {S}anta {A}na-{L}a {F}lorida ({SALF}) site in southeast {E}cuador. {T}o our knowledge, these findings constitute the earliest evidence of {T}. cacao use in the {A}mericas and the first unequivocal archaeological example of its pre-{C}olumbian use in {S}outh {A}merica. {T}hey also reveal the upper {A}mazon region as the oldest centre of cacao domestication yet identified.},
  keywords = {{AMERIQUE} {DU} {SUD} ; {EQUATEUR} ; {AMAZONIE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{N}ature {E}cology and {E}volution},
  volume = {2},
  numero = {12},
  pages = {1879--1888},
  ISSN = {2397-334{X}},
  year = {2018},
  DOI = {10.1038/s41559-018-0697-x},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010074745},
}