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Methods Used for Identification of Feather Remains from Wetherill Mesa1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 June 2018

Norman G. Messinger
Norman G. Messinger*
Affiliation:
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
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Abstract

Feathers provided by the Wetherill Mesa Archeological Project archaeologists were cleaned, placed on glass mounts, and examined under a microscope. Some initial comparisons were made from macrocharacters. Structures differ from species to species, and trial-and-error comparisons were made until the characteristics of the unknown species matched those of a known species. A file of photographs with characters of known species was kept and was useful for preliminary matching. Most of the material was identified as coming from Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), with Mourning Dove (Zenaidura macroura) also being identified.

Type
4 Techniques
Information
Memoirs of the Society for American Archaeology , Volume 19: Contributions of the Wetherill Mesa Archeological Project , October 1965 , pp. 206 - 215
Copyright
Copyright © Society for American Archaeology 1965 

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Footnotes

1

This is Contribution No. 33 of the Metherill Mesa Archeological Project.

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