Unveiling the Xianbei Cavalry: A multidisciplinary approach to restore and analyze the first horse-cavalry armour set in China
Data files
Aug 01, 2025 version files 6.96 GB
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README.md
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Supplementary_Data_mzML.zip
4.94 GB
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Supplementary_Data.zip
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Abstract
Between the 3rd and 6th centuries AD, the Xianbei emerged as a dominant nomadic power in the Eastern Eurasian Steppe, distinguished by their exceptional equestrian culture and the pivotal role of cavalry in warfare. Despite their historical significance, detailed knowledge of their cavalry’s weaponry and equipment—particularly armour—remains fragmentary. As a critical element of military technology, armour offers valuable insights into ancient combat strategies and cultural practices. However, research on early Chinese cavalry armour has been constrained by limited textual records and the scarcity of well-preserved archaeological specimens. This study presents a systematic reconstruction of the earliest known set of horse cavalry armour, excavated from the Lamadong Cemetery in Beipiao City, Liaoning Province, China. By combining traditional archaeological methods with advanced analytical techniques—including microscopic morphological analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and paleoproteomics—we successfully restored the armour’s physical structure and determined its material composition. This 1600-year-old nomadic cavalry equipment not only reveals Xianbei’s advanced manufacturing techniques but also provides the first evidence of sheep-derived materials in ancient armour production. Our findings underscore the importance of multidisciplinary approaches in archaeological research, demonstrating how paleoproteomics, in particular, can offer novel perspectives on material sourcing and technological practices in antiquity.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.vq83bk45t
Description of the data and file structure
This supplementary dataset contains the raw LC-MS/MS data essential for our study. All files are provided in their native formats to ensure transparency and facilitate reprocessing with alternative workflows for independent validation.
Files and variables
File: Supplementary_Data.zip
Description: The dataset is provided as a compressed archive (ZIP format) containing the LC-MS/MS raw data for six samples (AM_1-AM_6) and one negative control (AM_E0).
File: Supplementary_Data_mzML.zip
Description: To enhance the accessibility and usability of our dataset, we have converted the original proprietary .raw files into the open, non-proprietary .mzML format.
Code/software
The raw data generated by the analysis were first converted into a format compatible with database search engines using MS Convert. Mascot (version 2.3) software was then employed to search the corresponding database and identify peptide sequences.