Peppers were important to the earliest inhabitants of the western hemisphere as much as 10,000 to 12,000 years ago. Plant remnants have been found in caves in the region of origin that date back to 7,000 B.C. The Incas, Aztec and Mayans all used pepper extensively and held the plant in high regard. Many of the early uses of pepper centered around medicinal purposes. Pepper has been credited wit…