An investigation into the potential of peptide mass fingerprinting for the study of Australian faunal assemblages

One of the main challenges to the study of past fauna is the often high level of fragmentation of bone assemblages. Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS) is a biomolecular method that can be used to identify fragmented bones on the basis of their unique collagen fingerprints. So far, ZooMS studies have mostly focused on Eurasian contexts, but the method also has significant potential for the study of faunal assemblages in other regions of the world. This thesis explores the potential of Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS) to study Australian faunal assemblages. Two major challenges limiting ZooMS applications in Australia are addressed: the lack of a reference database, and limited knowledge of collagen preservation in the country. Then, the potential of ZooMS to study Australian faunal assemblages is further explored.