Kunji Cave
غار کنجی · Kunji · Ghar-e Kunji · Kunji Darreh
Middle to Upper Palaeolithic (c.70,000–30,000 BP)·Zagros Mousterian → Baradostian·🇮🇷 Lorestan Province, Khorramabad valley, Iran
About
About Kunji Cave
Moutasian (Middle Palaeolithic) to Baradostian (Upper Palaeolithic) cave in Khorramabad limestone, 8 m deposits, 70–30 ka. Mousterian Levallois points, Zagros Mousterian, Baradostian blades, faunal goat/horse. Excavated 1965–69 by Frank Hole/Flannery shows Neanderthal I and modern human blade transition, bone retouchers and raptor talon. Key for Zagros MP–UP transition east of Shanidar.
Why it mattersZagros MP–UP transition type-site near Shanidar but south Zagros.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Baradostian Neanderthal or AMH?
Theories
- 01South Zagros dispersal
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Natural cave occupied c.70,000 BP
- Period
- Middle to Upper Palaeolithic (c.70,000–30,000 BP)
- Culture
- Zagros Mousterian → Baradostian
- Builders
- Neanderthals → Early modern humans
- Purpose
- Seasonal hunting shelter and lithic workshop
- Abandoned
- c.30,000 BP UP shift to Yafteh
- Rediscovered
- 1965 Hole survey
- Excavation
- Excavated
c.70,000 BP
Mousterian occupation begins
c.40,000 BP
Baradostian blades appear
1965
Hole excavations
On the ground
Structures & features
33.7700° N · 47.4600° E · 1150 m · 3 mapped features
Kunji Cave — Mousterian floor
layerLevallois point horizon, Layer 4
33.7705° N · 47.4600° EKunji Cave — Baradostian blade cache
cacheBladelet horizon with bone retoucher
33.7700° N · 47.4605° EKunji Cave — Talon ornament
ornamentRaptor talon perforated ornament
33.7695° N · 47.4595° E
Gallery