Abstract
Archaeochemical investigations of organic residues have significantly advanced the reconstruction of ancient lifeways by providing molecular evidence of subsistence strategies, ritual behavior, technological practices, and socio-symbolic systems. This study presents a systematic review of archaeochemical scholarship published between 2010 and 2024, synthesizing empirical findings from forty-five peer-reviewed studies retrieved from Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Guided by PRISMA 2020 protocols, the review evaluates archaeological materials analyzed, analytical techniques employed, residue categories identified, and interpretive frameworks linking biomolecular signatures to cultural memory and religious practice. The findings demonstrate the methodological dominance of chromatographic and spectrometric approaches, particularly gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, isotope ratio mass spectrometry, and spectroscopic screening techniques. Lipid biomarkers remain foundational for reconstructing subsistence systems and dietary transitions, while increasing use of proteomic and isotopic analyses has expanded interpretive capacity toward ritual consumption practices, technological knowledge transmission, and spatial organization of domestic activities. Organic compounds such as fatty acids, fermentation markers, terpenoids, nicotine alkaloids, and resinous substances emerge as key proxies for interpreting culinary traditions, ceremonial behavior, and symbolic technological practices. The review highlights a disciplinary shift toward multi-proxy analytical integration and micro-contextual approaches that enhance the reliability of cultural reconstruction. The synthesis suggests that organic residues may be interpreted as biochemical indicators of repeated cultural practices preserved within archaeological materials. Future research directions include the development of comparative residue databases, high-resolution analytical techniques, and interdisciplinary collaboration to support more holistic reconstructions of ancient socio-cultural systems.