48 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. IIO 



were few remnants of bones and hearths. The fauna included wolf, 

 wild boar, deer, and hare. The flora of the site was characterized by 

 the presence of Quercus. 



lyg. Mursak-Koba. — This Tardenoisian cave, situated on the left 

 bank of the Chernaia River in Boklu-dere gorge near Balaclava, was 

 discovered and investigated by S. N. Bibikov and E. V. Zhirov in 

 1936. The cultural deposits yielded the characteristic flint inventory 

 and bone tools including awls, a needle, and a double-barbed harpoon. 

 Among fauna were deer, roe deer, wild boar, bear, fox, domesticated 

 dog, badger, hare, fish bones, and a large quantity of snails (Helix 

 vulgaris). In addition, here was also found the double burial ^- of the 

 Tardenoisian period. Excavations by S. N. Bibikov during 1938 

 revealed Upper Paleolithic strata near bedrock. 



180. Siurcn I. — A rock shelter, possibly Aurignacian, stands on 

 the right bank of the Belbek River, higher than Biiuk-Siuren. 13 

 kilometers southwest of Bakhchisarai. Here there were three cultural 

 horizons with flint implements, similar to those of Aurignacian sites. 

 In addition, especially in the lower stratum, were found Mousterian 

 tools including small axes, points, scrapers, and some bone imple- 

 ments. The fauna included the mammoth, cave hyena, northern deer, 

 Arctic fox, white hare, rodents, northern birds (white grouse), and 

 remains of fish. A study of the charcoal shows the boreal character 

 of the vegetation. This site, discovered by K. S. Merezhkovskii in 

 1879, was investigated by him during 1879-1880, and later by G. A. 

 Bonch-Osmolovskii in 1926-1929. 



181. Sinren II. — This Late Azilian (Sviderskian Phase) rock 

 shelter stands next to Siuren I. Discovered by K. S. Alerezhkovskii 

 in 1879, it was investigated by him during 1879-18S0 and later G. A. 

 Bonch-Osmolovskii in 1924 and 1926. The cultural stratum lies at a 

 depth of 0.75 m. between limestone fragments. Near the entrance 

 this stratum becomes about 4.0 m. deeper. The typical flint inventory 

 includes well-preserved arrowheads of leaf -shaped form. The fauna 

 has a contemporary character but with some Pleistocene species in- 

 cluding cave lion and large deer. Here were also the first finds of 

 the domesticated dog. A study of the charcoal from the hearth stratum 

 revealed only aspen. 



182. Fatma-Koba. — This Azilian-Tardenoisian rock shelter stands 

 on the right bank of the Kubalar-Su in the Baidar Valley of the 

 Balaclava district near Urkust. Discovered by S. A. Trusov and 



22 A cast of one of the skulls is in the Chicago Natural History Museum. 

 This was received during 1945 as a gift from lAE, Leningrad, where the original 

 is on exhibition. See footnote 10. (H. F.) 



