Unveiling the Xianbei Cavalry: A multidisciplinary approach to restore and analyze the first horse-cavalry armour set in China

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, an..., , # Unveiling the Xianbei Cavalry: A multidisciplinary approach to restore and analyze the first horse-cavalry armour set in China

Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.vq83bk45t](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 conv...,