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Difficulty: MediumCommand of Evidence: Textual

In a study of Neolithic settlements in Southern Europe, archaeologist Dr. Angela Vyas investigated the transition from foraging to farming. Vyas hypothesized that this transition was not driven solely by local environmental changes, but was instead facilitated by an active regional network of cultural exchange that spread shared culinary traditions. To support this hypothesis, Vyas's team analyzed organic residues on pottery fragments from several geographically separated settlements dating back to the early agricultural era.

Which finding, if true, would most directly support Vyas's hypothesis?

  1. A
    The settlements that experienced the most rapid local climate fluctuations also demonstrated the earliest and most complete transition to domesticated crop cultivation.
  2. B
    Neolithic communities that lacked access to regional trade networks struggled to cultivate domestic grains and eventually returned to foraging.
  3. Pottery vessels from settlements with highly varied local climates contained residues of the same domesticated grain mixtures, and these vessels featured identical decorative motifs.Answer
  4. D
    Analysis of the organic residues showed that wild plants and game remained a primary food source for several centuries after the introduction of pottery.

Answer

The finding that pottery vessels from settlements with highly varied local climates contained residues of the same domesticated grain mixtures and featured identical decorative motifs.
The correct answer shows that even in settlements with differing climates, people used identical decorative pottery styles and prepared the same mixtures of domesticated grains. This directly connects the transition to agricultural practices with a shared regional trade network and common culinary habits, supporting the idea that cultural networks—rather than just local weather or climate changes—were central to the shift.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the author's primary hypothesis in the passage.
The hypothesis is that the transition to farming was facilitated by cultural exchange and shared culinary traditions rather than being driven solely by climate shifts.
To evaluate supporting evidence, the core claim must first be clearly understood.
2
Determine what kind of findings would support a cultural-network explanation over a climate-based explanation.
Findings that show shared culinary styles and recipes across different climates, indicating trade or cultural ties rather than environmental adaptation.
This directly addresses the contrast between cultural exchange and local environmental conditions.
3
Evaluate the choices to find the one describing shared culinary and cultural markers across varying climates.
The finding regarding identical decorative motifs and identical grain mixtures in settlements with highly varied local climates fits this criteria.
It links cultural markers (motifs) and culinary traditions (grain mixtures) across disparate environments, showing that the transition was cultural rather than solely climate-dependent.

Key Concept

Command of Evidence: Textual
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Command of Evidence: Textual

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