September 25, 2020
Indigenous Tobacco |
Our newest online exhibit and the final one in our celebration of the 175th Anniversary of South Windsor, is almost completed and will be unveiled next week. From the Podunk Path to the Moon explores differing modes of transportation, their history and impact on the development of the South Windsor area.
So, for this week's Musing from Main we take a final look at our current online exhibit Evolution of Agriculture. Over the centuries, there have been several different types of tobacco grown in the Connecticut River Valley. The Wood's online exhibit, Evolution of Agriculture highlights the introduction of different tobacco varieties including Connecticut broadleaf, to South Windsor area farms.
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Image above is of an indigenous variety of tobacco in Nowashe village.
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According to the archaeological record, tobacco was first domesticated in the Andes of South America thousands of years ago. Some scholars believe its domestication predated and possibly laid the foundation for the farming of corn and other agricultural crops.
By the time of European Contact, Indigenous communities throughout North and South America were using tobacco for ritual, medicinal and ceremonial purposes. It was regarded by Native Peoples as a substance embodying great power.
Archaeological findings in Connecticut suggest the smoking of tobacco was introduced to Connecticut’s Native Peoples by the Midwestern Adena People.
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More varieties of tobacco highlighted in
Evolution of Agriculture |
