Darra-e Kur

Darra-e Kūr, also known as Bābā Darwīsh, is a significant archaeological site located in Badakhshan province, Afghanistan. Situated near the village of Chinār-i Gunjus Khān, this rock shelter is well-stratified with silt deposits and has yielded an array of artifacts, including approximately 800 stone tools, ceramics, and faunal remains. The site is notable for its Mousterian artefacts from around 30,000 BP, indicating Upper Paleolithic occupation, and a Neolithic layer associated with a 'Goat Cult,' dated to around 3780 BP. A human temporal bone, initially thought to be Paleolithic, was directly AMS dated to the Neolithic period, suggesting later burial intrusion. This site provides valuable insights into the prehistoric human occupation in Central Asia.