SKELETONS FROM SHANIDAR CAVE—SOLECKI 629 
samples, and of the mollusks and other faunal remains have either 
been completed or are in various stages of completion.* 
THE DATING OF THE SHANIDAR NEANDERTHALS 
We have reached the stage, thanks to the carbon-14 dating method, 
where we may estimate with something approaching certainty the 
age of the Neanderthals of Shanidar Cave. The base of the Bara- 
dostian (Layer C) appears from a series of dated carbon-14 samples 
to be close to 35,000 years old.6 There seems to be a cultural hiatus 
between this level and the top of the Mousterian (Solecki, microfilm), 
which is now confirmed by unpublished carbon-14 dates obtained by 
Dr. H. de Vries of Rijks University, Groningen, the Netherlands. 
In a letter dated May 25, 1959, Dr. de Vries allowed me to quote a 
carbon-14 sample dated as 50,000 +3,000-4,000 years before the present 
(GRO 1495). This sample was taken from an area about 6 m. from 
Shanidar I. Taking the slope of the deposits into account, and 
barring any accidents in stratigraphy, I concluded in a recent paper 
(Solecki, 1959b, p. 714), that this carbon-14 date was probably closer 
to the actual date of Shanidar I than my estimated date of 45,000 
years (Solecki, 1957c, p. 63; 1957d, p. 28; 1958, p. 106; 1959a, p. 406). 
The latter estimate was a relative dating based on comparative studies. 
In a more recent letter (August 1, 1959), Dr. de Vries permits me to 
quote two more carbon-14 dates from Shanidar Cave. One is from 
the base of Layer C, with a date of 35,080+500 years B.P. (GRO 
2549). The second, which is of more pertinent interest, was a car- 
bon-14 sample dated 46,000+1500 years B.P. (GRO 2527). This 
sample was taken from an occupational layer about 50 or 60 cm. below 
the contact of Layers C and D in the top of Layer D, at a depth of 
5.10 m. below “O” datum. It was taken from a spot about 4.5 m. from 
Shanidar I, and about 3 m. from Shanidar III. From its strati- 
graphical position, the sample appears to date the cultural sublayer 
of Shanidar I. Therefore, unless proved otherwise in the future, 
I consider that the Shanidar I Neanderthal is about 46,000 years old, 
and Shanidar III perhaps a few hundred years older by virtue of 
its slightly lower stratigraphic position. The latter was separated 
vertically from the former by a thin mantle of stones and occupational 
deposit both totaling about 70 cm. 
«The soils have been examined for pollen by Dr. Gunnar Erdtman of the University of 
Stockholm, Madame Arlette Leroi-Gourhan of the University of Paris, and Richard Shutler 
of the Nevada State Museum. Madame Leroi-Gourhan promises exceptional results with 
her methods. The Soil Conservation Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
examined the physical nature of the soils. Dr. Harald Rehder and Dr. Alexander Wet- 
more, both of the U.S. National Museum, each in his own respective specialty, examined 
the mollusks and bird bones. Dr. Charles Reed of the University of Illinois is studying 
the mammal bones. 
5'The series of carbon-14 dates from Shanidar will be published in collected form. 
