Testing for Mississippian Period Turkey Management in the Archaeological Record of the Southeastern United States

People living in Mesoamerica and what is now the eastern southwestern United States used turkeys ( Meleagris gallopavo ) as sources of meat, eggs, bones, feathers. Turkey husbandry domestication are confirmed two these regions (Mesoamerica American Southwest), but human-turkey interactions Eastern North (eastern Canada) not fully explored. We apply stable isotope (δ 13 C, δ 15 N) ancient mitochondrial DNA analyses to archaeofaunal samples from seven sites southeastern test whether were managed or captively reared. These combined data do support prolonged intensive captive rearing turkeys, evidence for less management ambiguous. More research warranted determine people areas, this generalizable. Determining reared helps define cultural environmental factors related turkey throughout America. This inquiry contributes discussion roles intensified human-animal animal domestication.