How were turkeys (bird) domesticated by humans?

3 days ago ... Speller said their investigations revealed that pre-Aztec people around south-central Mexico first domesticated turkeys. The birds appear to either have either been penned or "allowed to roam around the village," according to Speller. read more

It is believed that possibly the earliest turkeys were domesticated for their cultural and symbolic significance in ancient Mexico. There are two theories for the derivation of the name"turkey" for this bird, according to Columbia University professor of Romance languages Mario Pei. read more

To the Zapotec, turkeys were probably an important commodity. While people in the region today eat chicken, pork and beef, their ancestors relied on turkey and dog meat for protein, and turkeys probably constituted an important part of their diet. Even today, turkeys are still used in rituals in the region and raised to eat and sell. read more

Now archaeologists have uncovered the earliest origins of the all-American domestic turkey in Mexico, finding that these early birds were not prized for their tasty meat, but rather traded for their cultural significance in rituals and sacrifice. read more