The Ritual Importance of Birds in 14th-Century Central New Mexico.

 Just a short note that doesn't do this paper justice but more to advise of its publication - from the latest (Vol 29(1), Spring/Summer 2009) volume of the Journal of Ethnobiology comes a fascinating paper by Suzanne L. Eckert of Texas A & M University & Tiffany Clark of the Center for Desert Archaeology, Tucson that "...evaluate[s] the changing importance of avifauna in the ritual systems that were adopted in the 14th century in the Lower Rio Peurco area of New Mexico."

In the Discussion & Conclusion Eckert & Clark note "Detailed decorative and faunal data from the Lower Rio Peurco area show that the adoption of a new iconographic system in which birds played a prominent role was accompanied by an increased procurement and use of avifauna."
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How were these birds used in the prehispanic Pueblo world?
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While we cannot know the specifics of bird use at Pottery Mound and Humminbird Pueblo with certainty, it appears tha avifauna played a meaningful role in the prehispanic Pueblo world beginning in the 14th century, a role that appears to have continued into the modern era."