SHANIDAR CAVE — SOLECKI 417 



28.0 feet (8.53 m.) and 32.0 feet (9.75 m.) . This hearth zone measures 

 about 5 feet (1.52 m.) across and 4 feet (1.22 m.) deep. The deposits 

 are concaved, or downwarped, as though there had been a hollow in 

 this particular part of the occupational area. There is no appearance 

 of intrusional disturbance except in the bottommost part of this fea- 

 ture. The marked concentration of hearths in this unique localized 

 zone gives this feature a pitlike appearance. Fragments of mammal 

 bones and flints were found in it. The stratum mentioned above, and 

 within which the hearth zone occurred, had an average thickness of 

 about 9 feet (2.74 m.). The stratum lay between the depths of 23 to 

 32 feet (7.01 to 9.75 m.) from the surface. It was the richest part of 

 Layer D in cultural material, and it was in this heavy occupational 

 zone that the Shanidar child was found at a depth of 26 feet (7.93 m.) 

 from the surface. A continuous stratum of lime-cemented deposit 

 about 5 to 6 inches (12.70 to 15.24 cm.) thick occurred at a depth of 

 27 to 28 feet (8.23 to 8.53 m.) ; it slanted across the sounding within 

 the heavy occupational zone. This was the only lime-cemented or 

 stalagmitic deposit in the sounding, and may represent an interval 

 of increased (or exceptional) humidity in the geochronological se- 

 quence at Shanidar. 



Above and below the heavy occupational zone in Layer D were 

 found small scattered hearths and other archeological evidence. As in 

 Layer C, some of the hearths were contorted and compressed out of 

 shape by fallen boulders. 



Flints were found on the bedrock floor of the cave, indicating that 

 Shanidar cave had been host to Stone Age man from the very begin- 

 ning of the sedimentation. 



The Shanidar child (pi. 7) was uncovered in the southwest quarter 

 of Square SlWl at a depth of 25.8 feet (7.81 m.) below datum, or 

 about 26 feet (7.93 m.) from the surface. It was discovered when one 

 of the workmen began to scrape some loose earth from this area pre- 

 paratory to the excavation of another level. 



The skeleton was found in a dark gray-brown loamy soil. It rested 

 3 inches (7.62 cm.) above a bed of light-gray ashes. Search for a 

 burial pit met with negative results. Flecks of charcoal were noted 

 in the surrounding earth. The child was found in a flexed or doubled 

 position, with its head oriented to the north. All the bones present 

 were in articulation. The feet and leg bones were doubled to the west 

 or right side of the cliild, and the arm bones were similarly flexed to 

 the same side. The head, which was badly crushed, presumably by 

 the overlying earth, faced upward. All the bones, except those of 

 the extremities, were in a very poor state of preservation. They were 

 friable and badly decomposed, and many fragments were reduced to a 

 powdery state. However, we are exceedingly fortunate that so much 



