Passage analysis,
Finding: EA settlement deposition of charred bones. Varying degree of burning noticed.
Theories:
1. remnants of communal food preparation. (slaughtered & cooked)
2. Remains of animal sacrifice during religious ceremonies. (Offered whole)
Notice the difference between these two is one major parameter. one is offered whole and for another purpose it was butchered.
Answer choice analysis,
A. This information does not provide any information to support any of the theories. Even if more deposition is found it does not give clue why it was burnt.
B. If we know this info, still we do not know whether the same animals were sacrificed for religious ceremonies. So, not helpful.
C. This is actually helpful. Since we know for religeous sacrifices of animals they were sacrificed whole. Therefore if we find cut marks for meat removal in the bone, it definitely bolster theory1.
This is the correct answer.D. Since the author did not mention about age preferences of animals for any of the purpose for these settlement's inhabitants. This does not help bolster any of the theories.
E. even if option E is there, we know that there has been culture of animal sacrifice but does not give any idea about the food habits or anything. Therefore, this option also does not provide any insight to eliminate theory 1.
Bunuel
Archaeologists excavating an early agrarian settlement discovered a concentrated deposit of charred animal bones at the center of the site. The bones represent several different species and show varying degrees of burning. The deposit may be the remnants of communal food preparation - animals slaughtered and cooked during large gatherings of the settlement's inhabitants. Alternatively, the deposit may represent the remains of ritual animal sacrifices, in which animals were burned whole as offerings during religious ceremonies.
In order to help decide between the two hypotheses about the origin of the bone deposit, which of the following would it be most useful to know?
(A) Whether similar deposits of charred animal bones have been found at other settlements in the same region
(B) Whether the bones belong to animal species that were commonly hunted for food in the surrounding region
(C) Whether the bones display cut marks of the kind produced when animals are butchered for the removal of meat
(D) Whether the deposit contains bones from animals of various ages or predominantly from animals in their prime
(E) Whether written or artistic records from contemporary cultures depict animals being used in religious ceremonies
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