8 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL, IIO 



The fossil-bearing strata contain many fragments of bones. Accord- 

 ing to V. I. Gromov, the following types of mammals are represented : 

 Siberian goat {Capra sibirkd), horse (Equus cabaUns), wild boar 

 {Sus scrofa), leopard (Felis pardus), marmot {Mannotta sp.). 

 The remains of mountain goats are the most numerous. In general, 

 the composition of the fauna is similar to that of the present day. 

 According to Gromov's supposition, orographic, climatic, and faunal 

 conditions in this part of Central Asia have changed little since the 

 end of the Pleistocene period. 



Stone implements were mainly of local siliceous limestone ; some 

 were of quartz or quartzite. One implement was made of limestone. 

 The first fossil-bearing stratum contains many so-called "cores," 

 most notable of which are long, massive, oval implements with broad 

 sides and thick round ends fashioned by chipping with a sharp instru- 

 ment. Flatter scrapers of various forms and sharp-pointed tools of 

 primitive type have also been discovered. Chips and flat pieces of 

 stone for making implements are in abundance. There is a complete 

 absence of objects made of bone and horn. According to Okladnikov 

 Teshik-Tash stone technology corresponds to Mousterian culture 

 in Europe. He also notes the similarity between the typology of 

 Teshik-Tash and the Middle Paleolithic of Palestine and southern 

 Kurdistan in Iraq. 



The remains of the human skeleton were brought to the Anthro- 

 pological Museum of the Moscow State University. Part of the 

 femur, the tibia, the humerus, and both clavicles were in a fair state 

 of preservation. The skull was smashed into more than 150 frag- 

 ments, but all of them were well preserved and it was possible to restore 

 almost completely the cranium and face. This reconstruction ^ was 

 made by the sculptor and anthropologist, M. M. Gerasimov. Research 

 on the skeleton was conducted by G. F. Debets, M. Gremiatskii (the 

 skull), N. A. Sinelnikov (bones of skeleton), V. V. Bunak (endo- 

 cranial cast), and others. The results of this work are set forth in a 

 comprehensive monograph now in press. 



The preliminary examination revealed that the Teshik-Tash skele- 

 ton was that of an 8- or 9-year-old child, probably a boy. 



The cranial capacity is large, but the vault of the skull is compara- 

 tively low, with an angular occiput, prominent superciliary ridges, 

 and massive bones. The chin is little developed. The teeth are large. 

 The endocranial cast reveals, among others, the following character- 

 istics : a sloping frontal region ; a wide fissure between the lobes ; 



3 I had an opportunity to examine the skull and the reconstruction on June 16, 

 1945. (H. F.) 



