KARA KAMAR, Sarqia-i- Afghania 1

(حضرت سلطان - AF)
36.400000,67.883300
Grottocenter / carte

Description

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

Kara Kamar (note 1), a south facing rock shelter in probably Cretaceous limestone (note 2), is the first Stone Age site in Afghanistan to be scientifically excavated (note 3). The more than 20 m wide entrance, at an overhang of about 6 m (COON 1954), is curved like a crescent moon, or like a huge mouth smiling (COON 1957a: 234). The cave plan (in COON 1957a: 240) shows a few narrow leads (penetrable?) in the back of the shelter. SITUATION: At an altitude of 975 m (COON & RALPH 1955: 921) in the flank of a mountain (note 4), about 125 m above the village of Sarqia-i- Afghania (note 5), and on the road from Aybak (Haibak) to Kholm (Khulm =Tashqurghan, Tashkurgan Tachqourghan) and Mazar-i- Sharif.Kara Kamar (note 1), a south facing rock shelter in probably Cretaceous limestone (note 2), is the first Stone Age site in Afghanistan to be scientifically excavated (note 3). The more than 20 m wide entrance, at an overhang of about 6 m (COON 1954), is curved like a crescent moon, or like a huge mouth smiling (COON 1957a: 234). The cave plan (in COON 1957a: 240) shows a few narrow leads (penetrable?) in the back of the shelter. SITUATION: At an altitude of 975 m (COON & RALPH 1955: 921) in the flank of a mountain (note 4), about 125 m above the village of Sarqia-i- Afghania (note 5), and on the road from Aybak (Haibak) to Kholm (Khulm =Tashqurghan, Tashkurgan Tachqourghan) and Mazar-i- Sharif.

Documents

Bibliography 06/01/2018
  • Coon, Carlton Stevens 1955, 1957a, 1957b; Coon, Carlton Stevens & Coulter, Henry W 1955; Coon, Carlton Stevens & Ralph, Elizabeth K 1955; Dupree, Louis 1969, 1972a; Kempe, David 1988.

History

EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1954.03.27: Dr. Carlton Stevens COON (1957a, 1957b) and Mrs. (=Elizabeth 'Lisa' K. Ralph), Henry 'Hank' W. Coulter jr. (geologist) and Mohammed Nader Saweri Khan (inspector of the Antiquities Department of the Ministry of Education, Kabul) saw the entrance for the first time. 1954.04.06: COON (1957a: 238-254) and others commenced archaeologal excavation. Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

Caves nearby

Distance (km)NameLength (m)Depth (m)
1.6KARA KAMAR, Sarqia-ye Afghania 2
7.2KOKJAR (Cave at)
16.6KAFTAR KHANA, Haibak
17.0Hazarsum, Haibak
19.7HAIBAK ROCK CHAMBER
21.2TAKHT-i- RUSTAM 5, Haibak Vihara (Cave at)
21.2TAKHT-i- RUSTAM 1: tunnelcave 1 (Cave at)
21.2TAKHT-i- RUSTAM 3: monolithic house (Cave at)
21.2TAKHT-i- RUSTAM 4: rock chambers (Caves at)