"The Fascinating History and Facts Behind Thanksgiving's Beloved Bird, the Turkey"
Turkeys held significant spiritual roles in ancient Native American societies, revered for their feathers and associated with myths and deities. Archaeological evidence, such as ceremonial burials and the use of turkey feathers in rituals, supports their cultural importance. Turkeys were not originally used as a food source until Europeans arrived in the 1500s and 1600s, as they were primarily fed corn, a precious crop at the time. Despite becoming a popular food source, turkeys have retained their symbolic value in Native American communities.