Mummified parrots suggest ancient trade routes crossed South American desert

[PeteS in CA]

Mummified parrots suggest ancient trade routes crossed South American desert

https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2021/03/29/chile-parrots-macaws-ancient-desert-trade/1071617035268/

March 29 (UPI) -- The recovery of ancient mummified parrots in South America, dating to between 1100 and 1450 AD, suggest trade routes crossed the Atacama Desert, according to a study published Monday in PNAS.
...
Northern Chile's Atacama Desert is the driest desert in the world, and parrots and macaws are not normally found in the region.

However, archaeologists have unearthed the feathers of the exotic birds at human burial sites, as well as the mummified remains of parrots and macaws.

Scientists estimate that the only way parrots and macaws could have ended up in the middle of the Atacama is with the help of humans.

[thackney]

[catfish1957]

Considering these suckers even cost $1000's of dollars today, it is understandable that a talking bird probably brought some big time trade value even a 1000 years ago.   Owners do risk some hazard though.  A pet shop owner told me that angry invoked Macaw can sever a human finger.

[bigheadfred]

Mummified parrots suggest ancient trade routes crossed South American desert

https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2021/03/29/chile-parrots-macaws-ancient-desert-trade/1071617035268/

Atacama. One of the most interesting places on this planet.

[bigheadfred]

Northern Chile's Atacama Desert is the driest desert in the world

Now I know! I thought Antarctica was the driest desert. But it is the driest continent.