Thesis
Birds of a feather: turkey use at postclassic Mayapán
Washington State University
Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
2017
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/100713
Abstract
Two species of turkeys were available to and utilized by the Maya: the Common Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) from Central Mexico and the Ocellated Turkey (Meleagris ocellata) native to northern Guatemala, Belize, and the Yucatan Peninsula. While both species were utilized, only the Common Turkey was domesticated although previous authors have suggested some degree of Ocellated Turkey management may have occurred. One of the possible sites of Ocellated Turkey management is the Postclassic Maya capital of Mayapán located in the Yucatan Peninsula. Using a multiproxy approach, I reevaluate our current understanding of human-turkey relationships at the site by evaluating four hypotheses: 1) a multiproxy approach utilizing previously defined osteometric ranges and morphology with stable isotope analysis can differentiate between the two species, 2) both Common and Ocellated Turkeys were present at the site, 3) these two species were used differently in status-based and functional contexts, and 4) only the Common Turkey was reared on-site, while the Ocellated Turkey was wild-hunted. Morphological and osteometric results indicate the presence of both species, with Common Turkeys outnumbering Ocellated, and an apparent preference for both species in ceremonial structures. Demographic and stable isotope analysis indicates Common Turkeys were reared onsite from hatching through death, and consumed a human-controlled diet of maize. Ocellated Turkey demographics reflect a wild-hunted strategy and isotopic values are consistent with a wild or mixed C3/C4 plant diet. These findings are important for three reasons: 1) they disprove previous claims of Ocellated Turkey captive rearing, instead showing a mixed strategy of M. ocellata procurement; 2) they prove domestic M. gallopavo were present and being reared on-site; and 3) it provides an additional component, animal use, to understanding how increased interaction with Central Mexico during the Postclassic altered Maya life.
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Details
- Title
- Birds of a feather
- Creators
- Lori Brooke Phillips
- Contributors
- Erin K Thornton (Chair)Andrew I. Duff (Committee Member) - Washington State University, Anthropology, Department ofShannon Tushingham (Committee Member) - Washington State University, Anthropology, Department of
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Anthropology, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525105701842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis