Fun wild turkey observation=> I live on a nature reserve. Early in the spring wild turkeys return to the area though they do not nest on the reserve. Last year, 55 turkeys flew in every day and marched, largely single file around a 15 acre field in front of my home. They absolutely kept to the straight line borders of the field, though the field is bordered by forest and grass. Every once in awhile a turkey would find something in the mud and several would gather around. These scratching areas looked like they had been plowed in a space less than a square meter. I thought they had found tasty worms or something in those spots. When they had completely followed all four borders of the field, they ducked into the brush and flew away to the nearby area where they nest. My point, in saying this here is, maybe Ancestral Puebloans observed similar activities and believed turkeys helped keep the agricultural fields free of pests.
Although turkey domestication was thought to have occurred in central Mesoamerica at least 2,000 years ago,[1] recent research suggests a possible second domestication event in the area that is now the southwestern United States between 200 BC and AD 500. However, all of the main domestic turkey varieties today descend from the turkey raised in central Mexico that was subsequently imported into Europe by the Spanish in the 16th century.[2]
My recommendation for these archaeologists is to try eating various sub species of Turkey and use various diets whether it is maize, acorns, pine nuts or other I think you will find it has impact on the taste palate to humans of the birds meat, I would humbly suggest that based on taste you can derive a preference. Wild Turkey is basically not your mothers butterball by any means, it has a grainy texture that honestly is not that appealing. Also cooking methods apply here you can smoke them or put them in a clay pot and boil them with other things. If you can figure out from the remaining indigenous people a continued consumption preference based on how they were fed, it would give a higher understanding of how they were probably consumed as food.
In the partnership between humans and the birds, the behavior of the birds and human notions of necessity imply the notion that turkeys are pattern-adaptable. When you supplement wild birds' diets, you ensure their behavior remains consistent when you treat the animals kindly after plucking and releasing them to rejoin their flock. Turkeys are naturally inquisitive and scratch the ground. They also roost in trees and they are inappropriately regarded as poor flyers, but are very capable of navigation in heavy woods. They're easily distractable with food and tolerate humans with ease.
Are there any indications of (male) turkey beards in rituals or personal adornments? Are there any indications of birds being harvested via the arrow in the osteological record in turkey skeletons in pre-contact?
Turkeys "kept" around human habitation without pens??? LOL! At least with modern wild turkeys here in the northwest, all they need to domesticate themselves is free food. Congregations of hundreds of turkeys sometimes densely pack barn yards for grain, pet food or whatever they find interesting. On some farms and ranches they become such a nuisance that the fish and game services net big groups and relocate them. I have seen these large accumulations of turkeys personally. They will mill around within reach of humans though they shy away if one tries to touch them. In the spring they depart to raise young in the woods and mountains. They return in winter. What is astonishing about the maize fed turkeys of the Ancient Puebloans is, how could they afford to share that much maize? Turkeys have appetites like vacuum cleaners. On the other hand, they also eat bugs and probably other pests so maybe there was a symbiotic relationship.
The video indicates that many turkey pens found have layers of turkey poop that is several inches to a few feet thick. These folks wouldn't have necessarily known about how to use fertilizer. Presumably if they'd known, the layers of poop remaining in multiple turkey pins would not be so thick.
unsure about turkey in particular, but from experience know that chicken manure is too highly acidic for most gardens. Maybe this is true of turkey as well?
Fun wild turkey observation=> I live on a nature reserve. Early in the spring wild turkeys return to the area though they do not nest on the reserve. Last year, 55 turkeys flew in every day and marched, largely single file around a 15 acre field in front of my home. They absolutely kept to the straight line borders of the field, though the field is bordered by forest and grass. Every once in awhile a turkey would find something in the mud and several would gather around. These scratching areas looked like they had been plowed in a space less than a square meter. I thought they had found tasty worms or something in those spots. When they had completely followed all four borders of the field, they ducked into the brush and flew away to the nearby area where they nest.
My point, in saying this here is, maybe Ancestral Puebloans observed similar activities and believed turkeys helped keep the agricultural fields free of pests.
Although turkey domestication was thought to have occurred in central Mesoamerica at least 2,000 years ago,[1] recent research suggests a possible second domestication event in the area that is now the southwestern United States between 200 BC and AD 500. However, all of the main domestic turkey varieties today descend from the turkey raised in central Mexico that was subsequently imported into Europe by the Spanish in the 16th century.[2]
My recommendation for these archaeologists is to try eating various sub species of Turkey and use various diets whether it is maize, acorns, pine nuts or other I think you will find it has impact on the taste palate to humans of the birds meat, I would humbly suggest that based on taste you can derive a preference. Wild Turkey is basically not your mothers butterball by any means, it has a grainy texture that honestly is not that appealing. Also cooking methods apply here you can smoke them or put them in a clay pot and boil them with other things. If you can figure out from the remaining indigenous people a continued consumption preference based on how they were fed, it would give a higher understanding of how they were probably consumed as food.
In the partnership between humans and the birds, the behavior of the birds and human notions of necessity imply the notion that turkeys are pattern-adaptable. When you supplement wild birds' diets, you ensure their behavior remains consistent when you treat the animals kindly after plucking and releasing them to rejoin their flock. Turkeys are naturally inquisitive and scratch the ground. They also roost in trees and they are inappropriately regarded as poor flyers, but are very capable of navigation in heavy woods. They're easily distractable with food and tolerate humans with ease.
Well said, Mars. I have about 40 that come down to my property and right up to e because I feed them. Interesting.
Are there any indications of (male) turkey beards in rituals or personal adornments? Are there any indications of birds being harvested via the arrow in the osteological record in turkey skeletons in pre-contact?
Turkeys "kept" around human habitation without pens??? LOL! At least with modern wild turkeys here in the northwest, all they need to domesticate themselves is free food. Congregations of hundreds of turkeys sometimes densely pack barn yards for grain, pet food or whatever they find interesting. On some farms and ranches they become such a nuisance that the fish and game services net big groups and relocate them. I have seen these large accumulations of turkeys personally. They will mill around within reach of humans though they shy away if one tries to touch them. In the spring they depart to raise young in the woods and mountains. They return in winter.
What is astonishing about the maize fed turkeys of the Ancient Puebloans is, how could they afford to share that much maize? Turkeys have appetites like vacuum cleaners. On the other hand, they also eat bugs and probably other pests so maybe there was a symbiotic relationship.
That's because they were already domesticated 1000's of years ago.
Wouldn’t the farmers use turkey manure fertilizer with it is a rich source of nutrients for gardens. Look for pens close to fields.
The video indicates that many turkey pens found have layers of turkey poop that is several inches to a few feet thick. These folks wouldn't have necessarily known about how to use fertilizer. Presumably if they'd known, the layers of poop remaining in multiple turkey pins would not be so thick.
unsure about turkey in particular, but from experience know that chicken manure is too highly acidic for most gardens. Maybe this is true of turkey as well?