According to a 1990 law, Native American tribes are entitled to artifacts or remains removed from their lands, provided that the tribes can show a direct archaeological, geological, or historical link to the artifacts. Recently, the Umatilla tribes of Oregon and Washington laid claim to a set of skeletal remains more than 500 years old.

Each of the following, if true, strengthens the Umatilla`s claim to the remains EXCEPT:


A. Tools found with the remains are similar to tools known to be used by the ancestors of the Umatilla.

B. DNA evidence from the remains shows a direct link to current members of the Umatilla.

C. The Umatilla claim that the remains of all native peoples deserve the respect of a traditional reburial ceremony.

D. The remains were found in close proximity to an excavation of an ancient Umatilla settlement.

E. The remains were buried with artifacts similar to those found with other Umatilla remains.
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+C
The claim made by Umatilla isn't based on any evidence that supports direct archaeological, geological, or historical link to the artifacts. C presents only a hollow claim.

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OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

The argument discusses the conditions under which Native American tribes can lay claim to a particular set of historical artifacts and remains. Specifically, the Umatilla must establish a direct archaeological, geological, or historical link to those remains upon which they have laid claim. The choice that does not help establish one of the three aforementioned direct links is the choice that does not strengthen the claim.

(A) The similarity of the tools found with the remains to those known to have been used by the ancestors of the Umatilla provide some evidence that a direct archaeological link exists, strengthening the claim.

(B) DNA shows a direct historical link from the tribes to the remains, strengthening the claim.

(C) CORRECT. First, this is a moral claim and does not fulfill the legal conditions by which the Umatilla's claims are based (i.e., it does not establish any direct archaeological, geological, or historical links). More importantly, even if it is established that the Umatilla deserve to bury their ancient remains, this does not provide any evidence to establish that the particular set of remains to which the
Umatilla are laying claim are indeed the remains of the Umatilla. Hence, this choice does not provide any support to the Umatilla’s claim from either a moral or legal standpoint.

(D) Proximity to an excavation site shows both a geological and archaeological link to the remains, strengthening the claim.

(E) Artifacts similar to those used by the Umatilla show evidence of a direct archaeological link to the remains, strengthening the claim.
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