Archaeologists excavating a Neanderthal campsite found discarded gazel

Question

Archaeologists excavating a Neanderthal campsite found discarded gazelle teeth there whose coloration indicated that gazelles had been hunted throughout the year. The archaeologists concluded that the Neanderthals had inhabited the campsite year-round and thus were not nomadic. In contrast, the archaeologists cite a neighboring campsite of nomadic Cro-Magnons that contained teeth from gazelles all killed during the same season.

Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the archaeologists’ reasoning?

(A) Neanderthals hunted a wide variety of both migratory and nonmigratory animals.

(B) Cro-Magnons and Neanderthals sometimes exchanged tools.

(C) Neanderthals saved gazelle teeth for use in religious rituals and later discarded them.

(D) Cro-Magnons usually followed the migrations of the animals they hunted.

(E) Gazelles inhabited the area around the campsites year-round.

AdarshSambare · Answer

Premise
At the Neanderthal campsite, discarded gazelle teeth suggest gazelles were hunted throughout the year.
Cro-Magnons show gazelle teeth from only one season, and they were nomadic.
Conclusion
Neanderthals lived at the campsite year-round, so they were not nomadic.
Prethinking
The argument assumes that year-round evidence of hunting means year-round residence.
To weaken this, we need another explanation for the mixed-season teeth that does not require year-round living.
Option check
A Different animals hunted → irrelevant to residence timing
B Tool exchange → unrelated
C Teeth were saved and later discarded → could mix seasons even if hunting was not year-round
D Cro-Magnons follow migrations → supports comparison but does not weaken Neanderthals
E Gazelles lived year-round → strengthens the argument
 Correct Answer C
Conclusion
C is correct because teeth could have been accumulated over time and dumped later, so it does not prove Neanderthals lived there year-round.

guddo · Answer

Archaeologists excavating a Neanderthal campsite found discarded gazelle teeth there whose coloration indicated that gazelles had been hunted throughout the year. The archaeologists concluded that the Neanderthals had inhabited the campsite year-round and thus were not nomadic. In contrast, the archaeologists cite a neighboring campsite of nomadic Cro-Magnons that contained teeth from gazelles all killed during the same season. 
 
Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the archaeologists’ reasoning?

The archaeologists assume that the gazelle teeth found at the campsite were discarded there soon after the gazelles were hunted.  The key weakness  is that the teeth may have been collected elsewhere or over time and then discarded at the campsite later. If so, year-round gazelle teeth do not prove  year-round habitation .

(A) Neanderthals hunted a wide variety of both migratory and nonmigratory animals.

Wrong. This does not explain why gazelle teeth from all seasons were found at the campsite.

(B) Cro-Magnons and Neanderthals sometimes exchanged tools.

Wrong. Tool exchange does not affect whether the gazelle teeth prove year-round habitation.

(C) Neanderthals saved gazelle teeth for use in religious rituals and later discarded them.

Correct. If Neanderthals saved the teeth and discarded them later, then the campsite could contain teeth from gazelles killed in different seasons even if the Neanderthals did not live there year-round.

(D) Cro-Magnons usually followed the migrations of the animals they hunted.

Wrong. This supports the idea that Cro-Magnons were nomadic, but it does not weaken the conclusion about Neanderthals.

(E) Gazelles inhabited the area around the campsites year-round.

Wrong. This may explain how gazelles could be hunted there year-round, but it does not weaken the claim that Neanderthals stayed there year-round.

Answer: (C)

swebeel · Answer

Hi everyone! 
Why C is correct? Assume that in case Cro-Magnons were nomadic and the gazelle teeth were found one coloured, it means gazelles were non-migrational animals. So Cro-Magnons hunted them occasionally, during specific season when they moved to gazelle's inhabitat.

So, if we question that Neanderthals had inhabited the campsite year-round, how does the answer C explain how they got all-year gazelle teeth? If Neanderthals were nomadic, they would not be able to get all coloured teeth, at least this answer C does not explain how they coul do it.

guddo · Answer

C does not need to show that Neanderthals got all the teeth while living at that campsite.

It weakens because the teeth may have been  collected over time  in different seasons and then discarded at the campsite later.

So even if Neanderthals were nomadic, they could have carried teeth used in rituals and thrown them away during one stay. In that case, the all season colors show when the gazelles were killed, but not when the Neanderthals lived at  that campsite .

yc168 · Answer

OE for reference:

Overview:  
The passage says that archaeologists found, at a Neanderthal campsite, discarded gazelle teeth whose coloration indicated the gazelles had been hunted throughout the year. The archaeologists concluded that the Neanderthals lived at the campsite year-round and were thus not nomadic. You are asked to identify a statement that weakens the archaeologists' reasoning.

The Correct Answer:

C  If, as (C) says, Neanderthals saved gazelle teeth and later discarded them, then the teeth found at the campsite may have been collected at various widely separated locations over the course of a year or more and then discarded at the campsite. This possibility leaves little reason to conclude that the Neanderthals lived at the campsite year-round. So (C) seriously weakens the archaeologists' reasoning.

The Incorrect Answer Choices:

A  (A) does not have any impact on the archaeologists' reasoning. As long as gazelles could be hunted from near the campsite year-round—which (A) doesn't give us reason to doubt—the gazelle teeth could have all come from the area near the campsite.

B  The archaeologists' reasoning doesn't make use of any evidence about tools, and we are given no reason to believe that Neanderthals or Cro-Magnons used gazelle teeth as tools. So (B) has no impact on the archaeologists' reasoning.

D  The archaeologists cite the Cro-Magnons to show that the gazelle teeth discarded by a nomadic group were different than those left by the Neanderthals. (D) doesn't really change this. It merely gives more detail about the Cro-Magnons' nomadic lifestyle and has no bearing on the archaeologists' reasoning.

E  (E) actually strengthens the archaeologists' reasoning. The archaeologists inferred that the Neanderthals lived at the campsite year-round from evidence that gazelles had been hunted throughout the year. For this inference to work, the gazelles would have to inhabit the area around the campsite year-round. Otherwise, the archaeologists would have to explain how Neanderthals living year-round at the campsite could have come to possess teeth from gazelles hunted throughout the year.

Archaeologists excavating a Neanderthal campsite found discarded gazel

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Archaeologists excavating a Neanderthal campsite found discarded gazel

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615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

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