408 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1954 



western portion of the sounding. It slanted upward to the east to a 

 depth of 31 feet (9.45 m.) below the surface. 



The engineering of the sounding presented the usual problems with 

 respect to excavation and soil removal, plus constant vigilance against 

 possible cave-ins. The deposits below Layer A were composed of 

 compact loamy soils which were safe enough for the maintenance of 

 steep wall faces. Encountered were numerous boulders and stones 

 which had to be broken up into portable-sized fragments for clearance. 

 These undoubtedly had fallen from the ceiling. A total of 41 charges 

 of gelignite were set in order to shatter the larger boulders. This ac- 

 tivity presented some difficulties during the winter season of 1951 

 when the whole cave population of natives with their livestock had 

 to be evacuated before each blast. 



A slight earthquake, a factor normally not included in the cal- 

 culations, was experienced on August 14 while work was in progress 

 at the bottom of the pit. Fortunately, the walls held and no damage 

 was done to either the personnel or the sounding. 



The number of flints recovered during the 1951 and 1953 seasons 

 total approximately 2,800 specimens. Of this number, over 40 percent 

 are use-retouched flakes and blades, notched blades and flakes, cores 

 and core fragments. Layer B in the stratigraphy yielded the most 

 flints for its shallow deposit, numbering well over 1,000 specimens. 

 Of the remainder. Layer D yielded the next in numerical proportion, 

 while Layer C produced the least number of specimens. 



Except for a study collection presently in the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion, the whole collection from Shanidar cave is in Iraq. 



This preliminary announcement of the two seasons' work at 

 Shanidar is based upon my first reports (Solecki, op. cit.), my notes 

 and observations of the collection that is now in Baghdad, and a sample 

 of the flints studied in this country. The last represents approximately 

 a selected 10 percent of the flint inventory. Drs. J. W. Amschler of 

 Vienna and F. C. Eraser of the British Museum have kindly consented 

 to examine the mammal bones. Dr. Alexander Wetmore of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution has agreed to examine the bird bones. The reports 

 from these authorities will be included in a later paper. Dr. Hans 

 Suess of the U. S. Geological Survey has taken three carbon specimens 

 (from Layers B and C) for carbon-14 analysis. His findings are re- 

 ported below. The sum total of the related biologic, climatologic, and 

 geologic findings (or as much as can be obtained) will be treated in the 

 final report. 



STRATIGRAPHY 



It was observed that the top layers, A and B, were shallower in depth 

 in the northeast part of the sounding, growing deeper toward the 



