This study presents a minimally invasive proteomics workflow for species identification of ivory and bone museum objects. The method involves extracting minimal amounts of material from precious objects and using high-resolution mass spectrometry-based proteomics to identify the taxonomy of ivory and bone objects from The Metropolitan Museum of Art collection, dating back to 4000 B.C. A proteomic database of underrepresented species was built using exemplars from the American Museum of Natural History. Alternative data analysis workflows were proposed for samples with inconsistently preserved organic material. The application demonstrates the ability to identify ivory species using proteomics to resolve sequence uncertainties, such as distinguishing leucine and isoleucine. Ivory is a highly prized material in many cultures due to its aesthetic qualities. It is commonly found in museum collections in the form of statuettes, buttons, chess pieces, and other objects. Ivory taxonomic identification is important for CITES compliance and provides context for the creation of objects. The study addresses the challenge of identifying ivory species when visual methods fail, as it is often difficult to determine the species of ivory objects. The study also highlights the importance of accurate species identification for the regulation of the trade or trafficking of materials from endangered species. The study used a minimally invasive sampling technique with 6-µm diamond microgrit polishing films to extract material from museum objects. This technique allowed for the removal of the topmost layer of contamination and access to better preserved material. The study analyzed a diverse range of objects from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, including Egyptian Art, Medieval Art, Musical Instruments, and The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing. The study also analyzed elephant tusks and hippopotamus teeth and bones collected in the early 1900s from the Mammalogy Department of the American Museum of Natural History to construct a proteomic database of underrepresented species. The study identified species-specific peptides from collagen, which is the most prevalent structural protein in mineralized tissues such as bones and ivory. The study demonstrated the ability to identify species with high confidence using proteomics, even in cases where traditional methods failed. The study also developed targeted data analysis methodologies to extract information from highly degraded historical objects and MS3 fragmentation methods to differentiate leucine and isoleucine isomeric residues for more confident sequence identification. The study found that the collagen sequence is highly conserved between species, making it challenging to identify species based on sequence data. However, the study showed that proteomics can provide more specific or conclusive information regarding the age and taxonomy of a particular object. The study also highlighted the importance of proteomics in the conservation of cultural heritage objects, as it allows for the identification of species without compromising the integrity of the object. The study's findings have implications for the identification of ivory and bone objects in museums and for the regulation of the trade or trafficking of materials from endangered species.This study presents a minimally invasive proteomics workflow for species identification of ivory and bone museum objects. The method involves extracting minimal amounts of material from precious objects and using high-resolution mass spectrometry-based proteomics to identify the taxonomy of ivory and bone objects from The Metropolitan Museum of Art collection, dating back to 4000 B.C. A proteomic database of underrepresented species was built using exemplars from the American Museum of Natural History. Alternative data analysis workflows were proposed for samples with inconsistently preserved organic material. The application demonstrates the ability to identify ivory species using proteomics to resolve sequence uncertainties, such as distinguishing leucine and isoleucine. Ivory is a highly prized material in many cultures due to its aesthetic qualities. It is commonly found in museum collections in the form of statuettes, buttons, chess pieces, and other objects. Ivory taxonomic identification is important for CITES compliance and provides context for the creation of objects. The study addresses the challenge of identifying ivory species when visual methods fail, as it is often difficult to determine the species of ivory objects. The study also highlights the importance of accurate species identification for the regulation of the trade or trafficking of materials from endangered species. The study used a minimally invasive sampling technique with 6-µm diamond microgrit polishing films to extract material from museum objects. This technique allowed for the removal of the topmost layer of contamination and access to better preserved material. The study analyzed a diverse range of objects from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, including Egyptian Art, Medieval Art, Musical Instruments, and The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing. The study also analyzed elephant tusks and hippopotamus teeth and bones collected in the early 1900s from the Mammalogy Department of the American Museum of Natural History to construct a proteomic database of underrepresented species. The study identified species-specific peptides from collagen, which is the most prevalent structural protein in mineralized tissues such as bones and ivory. The study demonstrated the ability to identify species with high confidence using proteomics, even in cases where traditional methods failed. The study also developed targeted data analysis methodologies to extract information from highly degraded historical objects and MS3 fragmentation methods to differentiate leucine and isoleucine isomeric residues for more confident sequence identification. The study found that the collagen sequence is highly conserved between species, making it challenging to identify species based on sequence data. However, the study showed that proteomics can provide more specific or conclusive information regarding the age and taxonomy of a particular object. The study also highlighted the importance of proteomics in the conservation of cultural heritage objects, as it allows for the identification of species without compromising the integrity of the object. The study's findings have implications for the identification of ivory and bone objects in museums and for the regulation of the trade or trafficking of materials from endangered species.