Paleodiet of domestic turkey, Shields Pueblo (5MT3807), Colorado: isotopic analysis and its implications for care of a household domesticate

Maize provisioning of Ontario Late Woodland turkeys: Isotopic evidence of seasonal, cultural, spatial and temporal variation

“…The turkey was the only animal domesticated (in the strict sense) in North America prior to European contact (Beachum and Durand 2007;Davis 2001;Dickson 1992;McKusick 1986;Rawlings and Driver 2010). There is evidence of independent turkey domestication events in the American southwest and Mexico (Mock et al 2002;Speller 2009;Speller et.…”

The nutritional context of the Pueblo III depopulation of the northern San Juan: Too much maize?

“…Isotope analysis of Basketmaker III and Pueblo II and III turkey remains indicates that about 70% of their diet was maize (Rawlings and Driver, 2010;Bocinsky et al, 2011;Nott, 2010). Prior to Pueblo III, though, relatively few turkey remains are found archeologically.…”

“…The 10 g of turkey would reduce the short fall to about 580 mg (Table 1). Since around 70% of the turkey diet, according to isotope analysis, a lot of turkey lysine is from maize (Rawlings and Driver, 2010;Bocinsky et al, 2011;Nott, 2010). Humans could ingest lysine directly from maize instead of through turkeys fed on maize.…”

“…These terminal sites have very high amounts of turkey remains, both absolutely, and compared to other faunal remains (Driver, 2002;Muir and Driver, 2002;Munro, 1994Munro, , 2006Rawlings and Driver, 2010). From Basketmaker II times on, domesticated turkeys were raised on maize (Aasen, 1984;Bocinsky et al, 2011).…”

Vertebrates

“…Turkeys in Colorado (USA) are interpreted as domestic based on isotopic evidence for their diet. These turkeys were fed food scraps and maize ( Zea mays ) instead of available wild foods (Rawlings and Driver 2010 ) . In other parts of the American Southwest, archaeogenetic evidence supports this interpretation (e.g., Speller et al 2010 ) .…”