416 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1954 



step or notch on either side — quite different from the ordinary gouge 

 type of polyhedric graver, which has a convex working edge. In 

 addition, there are in the collection several single-notched variants of 

 the polyhedric graver. The net effect is a rather flat, narrow, work- 

 ing edge which was probably trimmed to limits desired by the tool- 

 maker. This certainly was a specialized form of tool that must have 

 filled some needed purpose or adaptation. In the collection of the 

 artif actual materials from Ksar 'Akil, near Beirut (Lebanon), which 

 is now housed in the Peabody Museum at Harvard University, seven 

 examples of these artifacts were noted (unpublished data). These 

 come from about the 9-meter level of the site, which lies within the 

 horizon described by Ewing (1947, p. 191) in a preliminary an- 

 nouncement as "Lower Aurignacian" or "Chatelperronian." 



Two samples of carbon from Layer C were given to Dr. Suess for 

 radiocarbon dating. Both samples were from extensive hearths. 

 The first sample (W-178) was from near the upper part of Layer C 

 in Square S3W1 at a depth of 10.0 feet (3.05 m.). This sample gave 

 a carbon-14 date of 29,500 ±1,500 years, or about 27500 B. C. The 

 second sample (W-180) was from near the lower part of Layer C in 

 Square S2W4 at a depth of 15.0 feet (4.57 m.). This sample gave a 

 carbon-14 date older than 34,000 years, or beyond the range of the 

 radiocarbon dating method used by Dr. Suess. 



Regarding the great chronological lapse between the lower part of 

 Layer B (see above) and the upper part of Layer C, it is very likely 

 that the boulders and falls of limestone lying in and above Layer C 

 had effectively sealed off portions of the occupational horizons of 

 Layer C. 



Layer D. — The contact line between Layers C and D is distinct at 

 a depth of 16 to 17 feet (4.88 to 5.18 m.) from the surface in the south- 

 ern face of the sounding. The relationships were difficult to deter- 

 mine in the northern part of the sounding because of the boulders. 

 There was no sterile soil intervening. Layer D, which upon pre- 

 liminary analysis appears to contain a homogeneous Mousterian-type 

 industry similar to Hazer Merd, represents a long occupation of the 

 cave. Its thickest part measured 28 feet (8.53 m.). Limestone boul- 

 ders were encountered at intervals in this deposit, but there were no 

 large widespread falls as in Layer C. The soil was a light-brown to 

 yellowish-brown sandy loam, with a heavy occupational zone through 

 the middle. This stratum, which may later warrant a separate iden- 

 tity within Layer D, was marked by mixed, dark organic-stained soil 

 containing extensive hearths and ash lenses across the whole area sec- 

 tion of the sounding (pi. 3, 5). An unusually heavy and deep con- 

 centration of large hearths consisting of banded lenses of ashes, char- 

 coal, and burned earth was found in the east wall between the depths 



