TURKEY "X" DISEASE
SUSPECTED IN
PREHISTORIC FLOCKS
FOUR-CORNERS REGION
SW-USA

POSTED 8/6/06
During the early 1990s, while doing analytic work on selected
materials for the UNM/OCA Transwestern Project, I observed
a variety of preserved 'spores' using an electron microscope.
         Among them is the group seen here in Figure 1.
Figure 1

Morphologies suggesting free-form
teliospores (spiny forms) and
aspergillus and/or penicillium
(smoother chained forms)
X8000

OCA Site 423-101, FS 574,
San Juan Basin, -USA

A more extensive presentation of photomicrographs and discussion of spores is seen
in:

Kay, P.T. and Phagan, C.J.

A High-Technology, Multi-disciplinary Characterization of
Pigments, Plasters, Paints and Selected Classes of Archaeological
Materials. In Across The Colorado Plateau: Anthropological
Studies for the Transwestern Pipeline. vol XVlI, Part 2.
UNM/OCA and the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology,
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. 1993
.

Further investigation revealed these fungal organisms to be
associated with aflatoxins
chemical pathological agents found on corn meal
implicated in a fatal illness in turkeys.
By 1995, I had acquired a copy of the provocative
photo seen here as FIGURE 2.
FIGURE 2

THE EXCAVATED REMAINS OF A PREHISTORIC
TURKEY BURIAL FROM THE SAN JUAN REGION.

Provocatively exhibiting the characteristic rigor mortis posture
-S curved neck with legs stretched straight out behind-
of a turkey that had died of what is call TURKEY X.

Nearby, at the same elevation, is the unceremonious burial
of a human female lying extended, face down.  Perhaps
she was the 'keeper' and blamed for the bird's death.

During late August of 1994, while at Homolovi II
collecting pigment samples from a Niman kiva mural for analyses
donated to U of AZ, I learned of a Niman Dance Ceremony
soon to be held at Hotevilla and made the trip.

During the dance, I observed corn meal being sprinkled on the
dance area from time to time and chickens taking advantage of
this fare during and after.  Substitute turkeys for chickens
feasting on aflatoxin infested corn,
thought I, and you have a prehistoric event scene...one of
several possible scenarios.

The implications for devastating calamity/disaster are
legion and may very well have occurred repeatedly
over space and time.

During the interim, I have been building connections with experts in
poultry pathologies and fungal (mycological) induced ailments.
I am developing methodologies / protocols to test for chemical and biochemical traces
of the pathogens or ailments.  Additionally, I am attempting to gather
samples of non-NAGPRA turkeys remains-preferably mummies or
desiccated birds, but bones especially with connective tissue are needed for DNA
studies.
IF YOU KNOW OF ANY, PLEASE LET ME KNOW at


.
Charmion McKusick has been most helpful during my turkey tracking

Humans can be afflicted by this and other similar ailments-that can be lethal
i.e. alimentary toxic aleukia; coccidioidomycosis (valley fever) and
aspergillosis among others...

more on this soon..