Animal Offerings at the “Crossroads” of India, South China, and Southeast Asia: An Ethnozooarchaeological Study of the Salween Basin, Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand

Athiwat Wattanapituksakul

Animals are one of the main central ritual offerings in the spiritual beliefs of ethnic groups, with knowledge of their selection and preparation transmitted within and sometimes exchanged between communities according to local resources. This study uses observation and interviews with spiritual leaders and community members to examine animal offerings in ritual contexts within the Salween River basin of Mae Hong Son Province, focusing on the Pai and Yuam sub-basins. A cross-cultural comparative approach is applied to develop a model of ritual resource selection for cross-cultural research in ethnozooarchaeology. The results show that chickens and pigs (likely introduced from southern China) are the primary offerings in the Pai River basin, while greater diversity occurs in the Yuam River basin, zebu cattle from India or swamp water buffalo native to mainland Southeast Asia are used in major rituals. Some animal parts such as head, phalange, tail, and internal organs are offered, while the meat is shared among participants. These patterns reflect cultural interactions from India, southern China, and mainland Southeast Asia, highlighting the region as a cultural crossroads and demonstrating efficient ritual-based resource management.