PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

UF researchers discover earliest use of Mexican turkeys by ancient Maya

2012-08-09
(Press-News.org) GAINESVILLE, Fla. --- A new University of Florida study shows the turkey, one of the most widely consumed birds worldwide, was domesticated more than 1,000 years earlier than previously believed.

Researchers say discovery of the bones from an ancient Mayan archaeological site in Guatemala provides evidence of domestication, usually a significant mark of civilization, and the earliest evidence of the Mexican turkey in the Maya world. The study appears online in PLoS ONE today.

The discovery of the turkey bones is significant because the Maya did not use a lot of domesticated animals. While they cultivated domesticated plants, most of their animal protein came mostly from wild resources, said lead author Erin Thornton, a research associate at the Florida Museum of Natural History on the UF campus and Trent University Archaeological Research Centre.

"We might have gotten the timing of the introduction of this species to the ancient Maya wrong by a significant chunk of time," Thornton said. "The species originates from central Mexico, outside the Maya cultural area. This is the species the Europeans brought back with them to Europe -- all domestic turkeys originated from Mexico."

Using archaeological evidence, comparisons of bone structure and ancient DNA analysis, scientists determined the turkey fossils belonged to the non-local species Meleagris gallopavo gallopavo, which is native to central and northern Mexico. The Mexican turkey is the ancestor of all domestic turkeys consumed in the world today and Mesoamerica's only indigenous domesticated animal. The discovery of the bones south of the turkey's natural range shows animal exchange occurred from northern Mesoamerica to the Maya cultural region during the Late Preclassic period from 300 B.C. to A.D. 100.

"This research has consequences for understanding Maya subsistence because they would have had access to a controlled, managed resource," Thornton said. "The turkey bones came from right within the ceremonial precinct of the site, so these are probably the remains of some sort of elite sacrifice, meal or feast."

The bones were recovered from the El Mirador archaeological site, one of the largest and most developed Preclassic locations found in the Maya lowlands. The site contains massive temple complexes, some of the largest Maya architecture ever constructed.

"Plant and animal domestication suggests a much more complex relationship between humans and the environment -- you're intentionally modifying it and controlling it," Thornton said.

Researchers assumed turkey bones previously recovered from Maya sites belonged to the native ocellated turkey, Meleagris ocellata. The new evidence means researchers may need to re-examine previously recovered bones, said Florida State University anthropology professor emeritus Mary Pohl.

"This study is extremely significant and I think it opens up a whole new perspective on the Maya and animal domestication," Pohl said. "I find it especially interesting that these turkey bones are in this very special pyramid context because people often think of turkeys as something to eat, but they were probably making some sort of special offerings of them, which would go along with the fact that they brought them in from a long distance."

Florida Museum researchers hope a new two-year, $185,000-grant from the National Science Foundation will help answer some of the questions the study has raised about the history of turkey rearing and domestication in Mesoamerica.

"The turkeys were brought in, they weren't local, but we don't know if they were brought in and then killed shortly after, used as a trade item or bred on-site after an even earlier introduction," Thornton said. "The El Mirador study is really just a tantalizing piece of the puzzle and we still have a lot left to learn and explore."

While the fossils were originally excavated in the 1980s, they were displayed in the Brigham Young University Museum of Peoples and Cultures until being sent to Thornton for identification in 2004.

###

Study co-authors include Kitty Emery and David Steadman of the Florida Museum of Natural History, Camilla Speller and Dongya Yang of Simon Fraser University, and Ray Matheny of Brigham Young University.

Writer: Danielle Torrent, dtorrent@flmnh.ufl.edu
Source: Erin Thornton, 724-840-6991, eekthornton@gmail.com

Photos available

END



ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

How geckos cope with wet feet

2012-08-09
Geckos are remarkable little creatures, clinging to almost any dry surface, and Alyssa Stark, from the University of Akron, USA, explains that they appear to be equally happy scampering through tropical rainforest canopies as they are in urban settings. 'A lot of work is done on geckos that looks at the very small adhesive structures on their toes to really understand how the system works at the most basic level', says Stark. She adds that the animals grip surfaces with microscopic hairs on the soles of their feet that make close enough contact to be attracted to the surface ...

Doctors can now detect hard-to-diagnose prostate cancer

2012-08-09
NEW YORK (August 9, 2012) -- Researchers have successfully developed and tested a new prostate cancer screening method that uses the combined power of a novel drug therapy and changes in PSA levels over time to identify men with a high PSA who are more likely to have aggressive prostate cancer despite negative biopsies. The new study by researchers at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, published in the Journal of Urology, shows that PSA can be a much more effective marker for prostate cancer when an additional drug therapy is used than it can ...

Hormone in fruit flies sheds light on diabetes cure, weight-loss drug for humans

2012-08-09
Winston-Salem, N.C. – Manipulating a group of hormone-producing cells in the brain can control blood sugar levels in the body – a discovery that has dramatic potential for research into weight-loss drugs and diabetes treatment. In a paper published in the October issue of Genetics and available online now, neurobiologists at Wake Forest University examine how fruit flies (Drosophila) react when confronted with a decreased diet. Reduced diet or starvation normally leads to hyperactivity in fruit flies – a hungry fly buzzes around feverishly, looking for more food. That ...

"The Self Publishers Guide to Book Marketing: Step By Step Guide for Fiction and Non-Fiction Authors" by Jamie Cawley

2012-08-09
Jamie Cawley, small business owner and author of over 39 books since 1999, has now set her cap at making self-publishers lives easier with her upcoming work "The Self Publishers Guide to Book Marketing: Step By Step Guide for Fiction and Non-Fiction Authors". "Like many self-published authors I found that promoting my books was far more difficult than actually writing them! After reading a colossal number of books and blogs over the years trying to cobble together a marketing plan I was disappointed to find that most guides were either not focused ...

Young Music Mogul Famous Kid Brick Strikes Again With Video Release "I'm On It" and Simmering New Single "Yes Sir"

2012-08-09
Central Florida native son Famous Kid Brick has got to be one of the brightest rays of independent hip hop to glimmer and gleam from the Sunshine State today. With more than 2,500 BDS-registered radio spins of his runaway hit single "Im On It," 15,000 iTunes downloads and sold out shows throughout the Southeast, Hussch Boy Productions flagship artist Famous Kid Brick has been continually holding Florida captive. And he is set to give the rest of the world a dose of the radiant rays that our backyards have been soaking up for months with the release of his ...

West Coast Platinum Production Team: League Of Starz Launches New Website www.LeagueOfStarz.com to Strengthen their Market Position

2012-08-09
According to Artist Revenue Streams, a research project examining how and why musicians' revenue streams are changing, 64 percent of musicians said it's more competitive than ever. The League Of Starz, a West Coast Team of Producers with Platinum Record Production Credits decided to collaborate with Creativity Ainta Side Hustle, a Los Angeles based website design studio to brand their company in the digital sphere and strengthen their market position. Tavon "Pun" Alexander, League Of Starz CEO, "Technology has leveled the playing field for musicians so it's ...

Original Royalty Let's You Take a Peek of a Head Banging Book!

2012-08-09
Today at the website http://www.OriginalRoyalty.com, a branch of Israel United in Christ Inc. is allowing their customers to download the first chapter of the book "Understandest Thou What Thou Readest?" You may claim your download once you subscribe to our website's newsletter. You can find the purple subscription box to the left of the webpage. "In the last days the United States of America is the most powerful super power on Earth; however there is no scriptural mention of them according to the world's Christian leaders. Why? Society as a whole has ...

Lori Leigh Designs to Introduce Earring Chalets at New York Gift Show, August 18-21, 2012. Novel Fashion Organizers Will be Unveiled to the Retail Gift Trade at Stand #5238 at the Javits Center.

2012-08-09
Novel Fashion Organizers Will be Unveiled to the Retail Gift Trade at Stand #5238 at the Javits Center Whittier, CA Lori Leigh Designs Inc. President and Founder Lori Torline announced today that her Fashion Accessory firm will introduce the novel Earring Chalets at the upcoming New York Gift Show at the Javits Center in New York City. This is one of the largest premiere gift industry trade shows in the world. "The Earring Chalets were first introduced at trade shows in Las Vegas and Los Angeles and the retail buyer's response was overwhelming", said Mrs.Torline. ...

The Winner of the Web.com Cox Classic Played a Graphite Design Tour AD Shaft

2012-08-09
Graphite Design, maker of some of the most widely played premium golf shafts on the PGA TOUR, announced today that the winner of the Web.com Cox Classic presented by Lexus of Omaha played a Graphite Design Tour AD DI shafts in his driver. This win marks the 17th professional tour victory in 2012 by players who have used Graphite Design shafts. "This player is making a name for himself on the Web.com Tour by becoming the first player in Tour history to make his first two professional starts victories" said Tak Yamada, President, Graphite Design, "We are ...

Rapid Protect Updates It's Driver Safety And No Texting Apps For Preventing Drivers From Texting While Driving

2012-08-09
Rapid protect (http://www.rapidprotect.com ) updated its "Driver safety and No Texting apps" to support the life safety of a driver. These no texting driver safety apps are provided under the names of "Road Safe Driver", "Driving Control", Speed App", and "Speed Control App",. The apps are available on Android and Blackberry platforms. The use of a cell phone can be a major distraction while driving. Research has shown that countless accidents could have been avoided if the driver was not distracted while driving. There is ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

U.S. uterine cancer incidence and mortality rates expected to significantly increase by 2050

Public take the lead in discovery of new exploding star

What are they vaping? Study reveals alarming surge in adolescent vaping of THC, CBD, and synthetic cannabinoids

ECMWF - delivering forecasts over 10 times faster and cutting energy usage by 1000

Brazilian neuroscientist reveals how viral infections transform the brain through microscopic detective work

Turning social fragmentation into action through discovering relatedness

Cheese may really be giving you nightmares, scientists find

Study reveals most common medical emergencies in schools

Breathable yet protective: Next-gen medical textiles with micro/nano networks

Frequency-engineered MXene supercapacitors enable efficient pulse charging in TENG–SC hybrid systems

Developed an AI-based classification system for facial pigmented lesions

Achieving 20% efficiency in halogen-free organic solar cells via isomeric additive-mediated sequential processing

New book Terraglossia reclaims language, Country and culture

The most effective diabetes drugs don't reach enough patients yet

Breast cancer risk in younger women may be influenced by hormone therapy

Strategies for staying smoke-free after rehab

Commentary questions the potential benefit of levothyroxine treatment of mild hypothyroidism during pregnancy

Study projects over 14 million preventable deaths by 2030 if USAID defunding continues

New study reveals 33% gap in transplant access for UK’s poorest children

Dysregulated epigenetic memory in early embryos offers new clues to the inheritance of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

IVF and IUI pregnancy rates remain stable across Europe, despite an increasing uptake of single embryo transfer

It takes a village: Chimpanzee babies do better when their moms have social connections

From lab to market: how renewable polymers could transform medicine

Striking increase in obesity observed among youth between 2011 and 2023

No evidence that medications trigger microscopic colitis in older adults

NYUAD researchers find link between brain growth and mental health disorders

Aging-related inflammation is not universal across human populations, new study finds

University of Oregon to create national children’s mental health center with $11 million federal grant

Rare achievement: UTA undergrad publishes research

Fact or fiction? The ADHD info dilemma

[Press-News.org] UF researchers discover earliest use of Mexican turkeys by ancient Maya