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Difficulty: MediumCommand of Evidence: Textual

In a study of ancient agricultural practices, archaeobotanist Dr. Leila Hayashi examined charred plant remains from various domestic structures in the 8th-century BCE city of Gordion. Hayashi hypothesized that the introduction of new canal irrigation techniques during this period led farmers to prioritize water-intensive crops, such as flax, over drought-tolerant grains, such as barley, in agricultural fields situated closest to the Sangarios River.

Which choice best describes findings from Hayashi's study that, if true, would most directly support her hypothesis?

  1. A
    Flax remains from the late 8th century BCE were found primarily in wealthy residential districts, indicating that flax-based products were reserved for the city's elite.
  2. Flax remains from the late 8th century BCE were significantly more abundant than barley remains in domestic structures near the Sangarios River, whereas barley remains predominated in samples from earlier periods in those same structures.Answer
  3. C
    Barley remains were found in equal proportions in domestic structures both near to and far from the Sangarios River across all time periods, suggesting that barley cultivation was unaffected by geographic factors.
  4. D
    The overall volume of both flax and barley remains recovered from Gordion rose dramatically after the 8th century BCE, showing that agricultural productivity increased throughout the region.

Answer

The finding that flax remains from the late 8th century BCE were significantly more abundant than barley remains in domestic structures near the Sangarios River, whereas barley remains predominated in samples from earlier periods in those same structures.
The correct answer directly supports the hypothesis by establishing a clear correlation between the introduction of irrigation and the shift from drought-tolerant barley to water-intensive flax in domestic structures near the river source. By comparing these findings to earlier, pre-irrigation periods, the evidence confirms that agricultural practices changed in the predicted location at the predicted time.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the researcher's central hypothesis from the passage.
The hypothesis is that canal irrigation led to prioritizing water-intensive crops (flax) over drought-tolerant ones (barley) in fields closest to the river.
Understanding the specific claim is necessary to determine what kind of evidence would support it.
2
Evaluate the choices to find evidence showing a shift toward flax and away from barley specifically near the river after irrigation was introduced.
The finding showing flax abundance surpassing barley near the river during the irrigation era, compared to the pre-irrigation era where barley was dominant, matches the hypothesis.
This establishes the necessary geographic and temporal correlation required by the hypothesis.

Key Concept

Command of Evidence: Textual
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Command of Evidence: Textual

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