Bioarchaeological Insights from a High-Altitude Cave Burial Context in Ladakh, Trans-Himalaya

Sonam Dolma

High-altitude cave burial sites in the Trans-Himalayan region remain poorly understood, largely because harsh environmental conditions and complex site histories often limit preservation and systematic study. This paper presents the results of a detailed osteological and palaeopathological investigation of commingled human skeletal remains recovered from a cave burial context in Ladakh, India, broadly dated to the early to mid-first millennium CE.  The research draws on established bioarchaeological and archaeometric methods. Particular attention is given to taphonomic processes and preservation biases associated with high-altitude cave environments, and how these factors shape both analytical possibilities and limitations. Despite extensive fragmentation and post-depositional disturbance, a minimum of 56 individuals were identified. The skeletal evidence reveals pronounced degenerative changes across major joint complexes, pointing toward physically demanding lifeways and long-term environmental stress. These findings provide rare baseline palaeopathological data for the Trans-Himalayan margin of the Indo-Pacific region and demonstrate that meaningful bioarchaeological insights can be drawn even from challenging and compromised contexts.  By emphasizing methodological practice alongside interpretive outcomes, this paper situates Himalayan cave burials within wider archaeometric discussions of human adaptation, mobility, and mortuary behavior in marginal landscapes, emphasizing the value of archaeological science in expanding regional bioarchaeological perspectives.