This session is dedicated to showcasing the diversity and analytical power of zooarchaeological data, alongside iconographic and literary evidence, in reconstructing the social worlds of South and Southeast Asia from prehistoric times to the early modern era. By prioritizing faunal remains as primary evidence while also engaging with visual and textual sources, the session encourages a multi-dimensional and data-driven exploration of how ancient societies organized, experienced, and transformed their social and cultural landscapes in relation to animals. Participants are invited to present case studies or synthetic papers that:

• Utilize zooarchaeological datasets such as species spectra, age/sex profiles, butchery marks, spatial distributions of animal bones, taphonomic signatures, biometric and morphometric data, or biomolecular evidence (aDNA, isotopic studies).

• Explore how patterns in animal use, management, and deposition directly inform understandings of social identities, community organization (households, villages, urban settings), and collective practices (feasting, ritual, subsistence strategies, craft production).

• Compare and contrast intra-site or regional faunal assemblages to examine broader themes such as social hierarchy, mobility, trade, and interaction spheres across South and Southeast Asia.

• Address the ritual and symbolic dimensions of animal use by integrating direct zooarchaeological signatures, such as selective slaughter, ceremonial deposition, or associations with elite or communal architecture, with iconographic depictions and literary references where available.

Considering these in combination is essential, as excluding symbolic and ideological dimensions limits the potential for a robust social zooarchaeological perspective. A multi-source approach enables more nuanced interpretations of human-animal relationships and their roles in shaping ancient worldviews.