New fossil evidence shows prehistoric people from southern Peru up to the Bahamas were cultivating varieties of chilies millennia before Columbus’ arrival brought the spice to world cuisine. The earliest traces so far are from southwestern Ecuador, where families fired up meals with homegrown peppers about 6,100 years ago.

[Read](http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2007/02/15/chili_his.html?category=history&guid=20070215144500&dcitc=w19-502-ak-0000 “Read the Story”)(AP via the Discovery Channel)