Kaldar Cave
غار کلدر · Ghar-e Kaldar · Kaldar Rock Shelter
Middle to Upper Palaeolithic (c.54,000–30,000 BP)·Zagros Mousterian → Baradostian·🇮🇷 Lorestan Province, Khorramabad valley north, Iran
About
About Kaldar Cave
Pivotal MP–UP transition cave 5 m deposit (54–30 ka) with base Mousterian (Zagros) → Initial Upper Palaeolithic → Baradostian Aurignacian, first AMH 54 ka claim from layer 5. Small oval cave 16 m deep, intact Upper Palaeolithic bladelet horizon, bone tools, Nassarius beads, ochre. Excavated 2012– by Behrouz Bazgir (CBA Bordeaux) shows lithic continuity vs abrupt replacement debate, OSL/IRSL dates. Oldest Baradostian in Zagros bridging Yafteh–Kunji.
Why it mattersZagros earliest UP 54 ka; MP–UP Neanderthal→AMH transition type-site.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Is layer 5 true AMH 54 ka?
Theories
- 01Continuity vs replacement (Bazgir)
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.54,000 BP
- Period
- Middle to Upper Palaeolithic (c.54,000–30,000 BP)
- Culture
- Zagros Mousterian → Baradostian
- Builders
- Neanderthal → Early modern humans
- Purpose
- Seasonal shelter with blade and bead production
- Abandoned
- c.30,000 BP
- Rediscovered
- 2011 Bazgir survey
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
c.54,000 BP
Earliest Baradostian AMH layer
c.40,000 BP
Bladelet horizon
2012
Bazgir OSL re-excavation
On the ground
Structures & features
33.7700° N · 47.4300° E · 1050 m · 3 mapped features
Kaldar Cave — Layer 5 early UP
layerBaradostian 54 ka bladelets and beads
33.7705° N · 47.4300° EKaldar Cave — Mousterian base
layerZagros Mousterian Levallois points, base
33.7700° N · 47.4305° EKaldar Cave — Bead workshop
workshopNassarius perforated shells, upper
33.7695° N · 47.4295° E
Gallery