Application of lipid biomarkers in deciphering quaternary human evolution in the Indian subcontinent: An integrative review

Abstract

This comprehensive review article presents an integrated application of lipid biomarkers to unravel the intricate narrative of Quaternary human evolution in the Indian subcontinent. The study highlights the empirical and experimental foundations laid by numerous investigations, contributing to our current knowledge of sedimentary deposits, ecofacts, and artifacts that preserve organic residues containing lipid biomarkers. The advancements in lipid analysis, with a specific emphasis on enhanced analytical tools and approaches to data acquisition and interpretation, have provided an intuitive paradigm for comprehending various archaeological investigations. Concise documentation is provided on the process of establishing protocols for extracting and isolating lipid biomarkers, as well as the instrumental developments that enable the detection, identification, and quantification of these biomarkers. The utilization of compound groups such as fatty acids, alcohols and triacylglycerides (TAGs) for dietary reconstruction and subsistence transition studies is explored. Molecular markers including n-alkanes, lignins, terpenoids, and the related parametric ratios have also been discussed, offering an elaborate understanding of vegetation shift, thereby suggesting environmental and climatic change. An overview of relevant studies conducted within the Indian subcontinent and worldwide underscores the application of suggested lipid markers and subsequent technological advancements in archaeological contexts. The work highlights the paucity of studies within the Indian subcontinent, underlining the imperative for more extensive research to provide profound insights and address lingering questions surrounding human history.

Keywords

• Quaternary human evolution
• Indian subcontinent
• Lipid biomarkers
• Molecular tracers
• Dietary reconstruction
• Environmental interactions