Regional bio‐mobility of bovines during the Harappan period: Evidence from stable C–O–Sr isotopes of faunal bioapatite at Kanmer and Tigrana

ABSTRACT

Studies on biomobility in the Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC) or the Harappan Culture provide important insights into pastoral practices, trade and environmental adaptation that shaped the civilisation's economy and social networks. At its height, the IVC engaged in extensive trade across its vast territory, resulting in cultural and economic change across diverse ecological zones. Although archaeological finds indicate trade in artefacts throughout the civilisation, our understanding of human and animal mobility remains limited due to a lack of geochemical and isotopic data on provenance. A key unresolved issue in biomobility is distinguishing between local and broader animal husbandry practices and their trade connections. To address this, we analysed faunal teeth, bone bioapatite and bone‐encased soil using C–O–Sr–Nd isotopes from two Harappan sites, Kanmer (Gujarat) and Tigrana (Haryana), located more than 900 km apart. Our isotope data and the existing literature suggest that, in Kanmer, specialised animal‐feeding methods were used, and local rainfall was the primary water source across all settlements. Data from both sites show that most sheep/goat were raised locally with little movement; however, bovines in Kanmer from the mature and late‐mature phases had diverse, possibly non‐local origins, likely from Haryana. At Tigrana, some animals also showed signs of movement from nearby regions. Regional movement of bovines from a better watered region to a semi‐arid region may indicate trading as an important aspect of this civilisation embedded within broader social and economic networks.