Geology may give bin Laden away / Experts study recent video with hope of identifying his location in Afghanistan He said, "The photo image appears staged, probably with special lighting, in front of rocks that indicate (bin Laden) was probably in a ravine deep inside Paktia, which is a southwestern province in Afghanistan, and Pushtun tribal territory."

NATURAL CAVES IN AREA

In that region, "the rock has a number of natural caves, as well as hand- dug ones," Shroder said in an e-mail. "This site looks reasonably natural, with the hole behind him either being an animal burrow or possibly a site where some human has dug in a bit looking for gold or some other mineral of interest.

"Local peasant people dig all over the place looking for various minerals that they hope will somehow make them some money."