Mar (Ghar i) [Snake Cave]

Location

NOTE 1: Ghar-i-Mar (Snake Cave) is probably not an autochthonous title but an US-American nickname (for AK1 = Aq Kupruk [excavation site number] One) which is disguised under a Persian / Pushto cover. NOTE 2: Early Islamic level (pre-14th century AD), two Kushan (?) levels (6th to 7th century AD), "Scythian" assemblage, approximately 4000 year gap (1000 to 5000 BC), Gravels 1 (neolithic, about 7200 to 7500 years old), Gravels 2 (mesolithic), and Gravels 3. The ceramics are described by DUPREE & KOLB (1972), corroded relics of iron fragments by CALEY (1972a: 43), metal objects by CALEY (1972b), glass samples by BRILL (1972), and mollusks by SOLEM (1972). Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 02/02/2016

Ghar-i Mar (note 1) is one of the archaeologically important caves (or rock shelters) in limestone situated in the vicinity of –>Aq Kupruk. The north facing cave entrance (DUPREE & KOLB 1972: 33) opens in a high terrace of the Balkh River (Balkhab) »in the limestone hills of the Hindu Kush mountains about 100 km south of Mazar-i Sharif« (DUPREE 1964c: 638). CULTURAL HISTORY - human use: DUPREE (1964c: 638) says »modern nomads still use the rock shelter for sheep and goat pens while moving through the area …« and DUPREE (1972a: 9-11 summarises tentative archaeological results (note 2). Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 02/02/2016