Dr. Blanton emerges from the woods behind camp. He carries a handful of branches covered in small rounded leaves and sets them down on the picnic table. The students stare, perplexed for a moment as to what they are for until one pipes up, “Is that yaupon holly[1]?”
The day before it was decided that a single excavation unit should be placed on top of Mound A. With yaupon holly now in hand, the field school wants to make black drink for the unit opening. They do this to respect the mound and the people who once lived there. Black drink is a ceremonial beverage made by the natives in order to cleanse themselves. They would fast and then consume large quantities of the highly caffeinated drink, causing themselves to vomit.
The day before it was decided that a single excavation unit should be placed on top of Mound A. With yaupon holly now in hand, the field school wants to make black drink for the unit opening. They do this to respect the mound and the people who once lived there. Black drink is a ceremonial beverage made by the natives in order to cleanse themselves. They would fast and then consume large quantities of the highly caffeinated drink, causing themselves to vomit.
The next morning, student Emilee Clemens volunteers for the responsibility of holding the pot in the van and carrying it to the top of Mound A. As she sets it down, the entire field school gathers around the unit waiting anxiously. Dr. Blanton removes the lid from the pot and dips a cup down into the tea. He reassures us that no one is required to try the drink and that what we are doing is simply out of respect. If we were transported back in time to when the Capachequi were residing here, we would not have been allowed to stand at the foot of the mound, let alone on top of it. This area was sacred to them and we need to remember that.
Even so, each student eagerly awaits the cup to be passed to them. There is an excitement and awe, holding the cup and looking down into the black fragrant liquid. A slight tip of the head, a gentle sip, and each student ends with a pause, waiting for something big to happen. Nothing does. It is yet another beautiful day working in our units with only the mysteries of Mound A weighing on our minds.
-Allen Luethke and Kelly Teboe
-Allen Luethke and Kelly Teboe
[1] Yaupon Holly, or Ilex vomitoria, is the only plant native to North America that contains caffeine and is found in the southeastern United States coastal plain. Information cited from: Shadow, Robert. Plant Fact Sheet for Yaupon, Ilex vomitoria. USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2011. Web. <http:// plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_ilvo.pdf>