Microarchaeological Insights into South Asian Faunal Histories Using ZooMS

Bhavna Ahlawat

Our understanding of past animal populations has been greatly advanced by palaeoproteomics and ancient DNA technologies; however, South Asia remains markedly underrepresented in global biomolecular datasets. Here, we present the first integrated study applying Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS) on archaeological faunal remains from the Indian subcontinent. Despite the challenges of biomolecular preservation in tropical environments, our preliminary ZooMS analyses achieved taxonomic identification for over 70% of the sampled material, including indigenous cattle, caprines, and cervids. These results demonstrate the feasibility of collagen-based species identification in South Asian archaeological contexts and underscore the complementarity of proteomic and genomic approaches. We use these data to explore domestication processes, animal husbandry practices, and evolutionary trajectories, with particular emphasis on regional variability in ancient cattle populations. By integrating biomolecular proxy like palaeoproteomics, this interdisciplinary study addresses a critical geographic gap in archaeozoological research and establishes a foundational reference for future work in South Asia. In addition, we discuss methodological considerations related to protein preservation, sampling strategies, and data sharing, highlighting the value of multi-proxy frameworks for investigating ancient animal diversity and mobility.