Uncovering the Fascinating History of Turkey Domestication: Insights from WSU’s Erin Thornton

Title: Uncovering the Fascinating History of Turkeys: WSU Professor’s Groundbreaking Research

Pullman, WA — In a world where the humble turkey is often relegated to holiday dinner tables, Erin Thornton, an associate professor of anthropology at Washington State University, is on a mission to elevate the bird’s status. With a passion for archaeology and a keen interest in animal domestication, Thornton is determined to showcase the rich history and cultural significance of turkeys in New World societies.

“When I tell people I’m an archaeologist, they get really excited and they always ask me about my research,” Thornton shared in a recent WSU news release. “And as soon as I tell people that I’m studying turkeys, they look at me like I’m crazy.”

But her research is anything but ordinary. Thornton focuses on how ancient civilizations, including the Maya, domesticated and managed turkeys for both subsistence and ritual purposes. Her work culminated in the co-editing of the newly published book, Exploring the History of Turkey Management and Domestication: A Transatlantic Perspective. This comprehensive volume traces the evolution of turkeys from a New World livestock species to a globally recognized animal, rich with cultural connotations in America, Europe, and beyond.

“The turkey is the only vertebrate animal domesticated in North America during ancient times,” Thornton explained, highlighting a stark contrast to other regions where a variety of animals were domesticated. Her research has been pivotal in documenting the origins of turkey domestication in central Mexico, one of two primary centers for this process, alongside the American Southwest. Intriguingly, evidence suggests that domestication occurred independently in these regions, despite the historical exchange of ideas and culture.

Recently, Thornton received a National Science Foundation grant to delve deeper into turkey husbandry at Paquimé, an archaeological site in Chihuahua, Mexico. Collaborating with graduate student Caitlyn Ainsworth from the University of New Mexico, Thornton aims to uncover whether the inhabitants of Paquimé adopted domesticated turkeys from neighboring regions or if they independently experimented with domestication.

The research kicked off earlier this fall and employs a variety of innovative techniques. As a zooarcheologist, Thornton utilizes stable isotope analysis to examine how turkey populations were influenced by domestication. This method allows researchers to identify isotopic markers in bones and teeth, reconstructing the diets of these ancient birds.

“What we’re looking for is when turkey diet starts converging with human diet,” Thornton noted. “That indicates when turkeys stop feeding on available wild resources and when they start being closer to humans, even being fed maize from humans themselves.”

In addition to stable isotope analysis, Thornton studies the morphology of turkey bones unearthed during excavations and compares ancient turkey DNA with modern samples. This genetic analysis helps trace lineages and subpopulations, revealing whether specific traits were selectively bred.

“North America has been ignored in terms of animal domestication discussions,” Thornton stated. “The core of my research is to really understand how the turkey domestication process in North America can be integrated into broader discussions of global animal domestication.”

As Thornton continues her groundbreaking work, she hopes to change perceptions about turkeys and highlight their importance in the tapestry of human history. With each discovery, she brings us one step closer to understanding the fascinating relationship between humans and these remarkable birds.