Animal Exploitation and Subsistence Strategies at the Neolithic Site of Molapalayam, Tamil Nadu

Ajith Madhusoodanan1*, Abhayan G.S.1, Rajesh S.V.1, Kiran J. Prakash1, Arun Kumar K.S.1, Soorya P.1, V. Selvakumar2, and Gnanamoorthi M.2

Molapalayam (10°55′49.8″N, 76°49′20.0″E) is a Neolithic site dated to c. 1600-1400 BCE, situated in the hilly landscape of the Noyyal River valley near Palghat Gap in west of Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu. Excavations conducted in 2021 and 2024 yielded a rich assemblage of material culture, clearly indicating the presence of pastoral and early agrarian communities in this region. Zooarchaeological analysis carried out at the Zooarchaeology Laboratory, Department of Archaeology, University of Kerala, examined a total of 47,212 bone fragments from this site. Of these, 17,397 specimens were accounted for NISP (Number of Identified Specimens), while 29,815 fragments remained unidentifiable. The assemblage represents 28 taxa, encompassing a broad spectrum of domestic and wild mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, and molluscs. The presence of marine shells indicates long distance connections. The results demonstrate considerable diversity in animal exploitation strategies. Cattle constituted the dominant domestic species, with sheep–goat herding also well established. Alongside pastoral practices, the inhabitants engaged in the hunting of various wild taxa, particularly antelope and deer, reflecting a mixed subsistence economy. The presence of rhinoceros remains is especially significant, as this taxon is rarely documented in South Indian archaeological contexts and lies well beyond its present-day zoogeographical range. This study contributes substantially to our understanding of the South Indian Neolithic, a region where zooarchaeological research remains comparatively sparse. The faunal evidence from Molapalayam offers important insights into animal domestication, hunting practices, ecological adaptation, and broader subsistence strategies, thereby addressing a critical gap in the Neolithic record of Tamil Nadu.