History of Cochineal in South America, including Peru
Cochineal appears to have been used in Peru for about 1500 years and in Mexico for 1200 years. The earliest red yarns in Peru date to about 2000 BC but these were dyed with the roots of relbun (Relbunium spp), a plant closely related to madder, not with cochineal. Relbun was also used to obtain red colours in Paracas textiles (circa 800 BC) and even in the early Nasca textiles through to 350 AD (Grieder in Rowe 2007).
The earliest cochineal-dyed yarns appear first in the Nasca 7 burial site excavated by Lothrop & Mahler that was dated to 450-650 AD (in Rowe 2007). The widespread use of cochineal coincides with the expansion of the Huari empire in the Ayacucho area from 750 AD onwards (see Rowe) and this precedes the widespread cultivation of cochineal by the Toltecs in Mexico from 800 AD. Rodriguez and Niemeyer show that Peru had been trading with southern Mexico by sea for 2000 years (since 1450 BC). Sweet manioc and early corn were sent from Peru to Mexico and avocados and chillies travelled from Mexico to the Andes in exchange. This probably accounts for the adoption of cochineal by Mexico from Peru.
History of Cochineal in Central America, including Mexico
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Codex Mendoza records 40 bags of cochineal as tribute to Moctezuma (1 bag with flag = 20 bags)
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