Scientists from Cranfield University and the British Museum have found the earliest evidence of wine-drinking in the Americas in the Caribbean. Research published in the journal Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences.
The study focused on the artifacts on the small island of Isla de Mona, located between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. The existence of the island was noted by Columbus in his diary in 1494. Scientists examined the remains of matter on the walls of forty pottery fragments dating to the 15th century.
There were traces of wine residue inside the jug, which was later used as a container for various food and liquid goods transported on Spanish ships. Scientists believe that the wine remains they discovered may be the earliest evidence that Europeans who came to the Americas drank wine. The drink apparently arrived on the island between 1490 and 1520.
Despite the conquest of the indigenous peoples, the local traditions of cooking on fire continued. Since there are no large mammals in this area of the Caribbean, it is likely that locals grilled a large rodent-like animal called the hutie, as well as iguanas and fish.
Researchers think that wine drinking and Native American “barbecue” must have converged. This is indicated by the fact that scientists have found a large number of fish and meat bones on the island, but all of them are outside of the cooking utensils. Presumably, the locals continued to cook squirrels on coals on a high grill and vegetable dishes in ceramic pots. The scientists noted that this gives an interesting insight into the culinary exchange between Europeans and Indians on the island.