The ancient Maya people worshipped turkeys as gods and treated them like royalty.

The Maya specifically loved the Ocellated Turkey, which lives in the Yucatán Peninsula. Unlike the turkeys we see today, these birds have stunning feathers that shimmer in bright blue, green, and bronze. Scientists found turkey bones at the ancient city of El Mirador in Guatemala that date back to 300 BCE.By studying these bones, researchers discovered that the turkeys ate a lot of corn grown by humans. This proves the Maya were raising them as pets or sacred animals over 2,000 years ago. In ancient books called codices, turkeys are shown sitting next to powerful gods like Chaac, the god of rain.Because they were so special, only the richest leaders and priests were allowed to have them. Some turkeys were even buried in tombs with their owners to act as guides in the afterlife. Archaeologists at a site called Ceibal found turkey remains in the fancy parts of town, showing that these birds were a huge part of daily spiritual life.