DAR ES SOLTANE I1
LOCATION
Cave site in dune sandstones on the Atlantic coast of
Morocco, about 6 km SW of Rabat, close by the
much later (Iberomaurusian: Epipaleolithic) Dar es
Soltane I site.
DISCOVERY
A. Debtnath and others, 1975.
MATERIAL
Partial remains of several individuals, mostly unde-
scribed, including the partial cranium Dar es Soltane 5.
DATING AND STRATIGRAPHIC CONTEXT
The cave floor contains deposits ranging from Middle
Paleolithic to Neolithic. The hominids come from
Aterian levels in the middle of the sequence (Deb&
nath, 1975). There is uncertainty over the dating of
the Aterian; estimates range from around 40 Ka to
over 70 Ka (see discussion by Stringer and Gamble,
1993). It is likely that the Dar es Soltane I1 hominids
fall within this age range, although there are no direct
dates from this site.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONTEXT
Aterian (Debtnath, 1975).PREVIOUS DESCRIPTIONS AND ANALYSES
Initial description of the Dar es Soltane I1 hominids
was by Ferembach (1976), who, like subsequentauthors (e.g., Brauer, 1984; Brauer and Rimbach,
1990; Stringer and Gamble, 1993) described the Dar
es Soltane 5 cranium as robust but essentially modern,
albeit with noticeable supraciliary development. Both
Ferembach (1976) and Brauer (1984) suggested that
this latter feature may provide a morphological link
with the earlier Jebel Irhoud hominids.MORPHOLOGY
Fragmentary partial cranium (M.A.R. 89.4.1.3) with
most of frontal and L temporal, zygoma, L orbital re-
gion, complete supraorbital region, and some of L
parietal and R superior zygoma. Possibly cranially de-
formed.
Seen from side, frontal rises quite sharply behind
supraorbital torus in smooth curve; probably peaked
around region of bregma (where skull is broken in
midline). From above, supraorbital tori project for-
ward on each side of sunken glabella before retreating
laterally; distinct medial and lateral planes of bipartite
tori also clearly seen. Cranial vault broadens markedly
posterior to postorbital constriction. Supraorbital re-
gion fairly robust, thick, bipartite, vermiculated, some-
what anteriorly protruding, and discontinuous across
glabella (thus shows a form of glabellar “butterfly”).
Distinct supraorbital notch lies just medial to midline
of orbit, at demarcation of two distinct anterior
planes. Medial portion faces more anteriorly and is de-
lineated superiorly by a blunt margin (thus appearing
more distinct from rest of frontal behind it). Lateral
portion thinner; curves superiorly to flow smoothly55