Question

Metal rings recently excavated from seventh-century settlements in the western part of Mexico were made using the same metallurgical techniques as those used by Ecuadorian artisans before and during that period. These techniques are sufficiently complex to make their independent development in both areas unlikely. Since the people of these two areas were in cultural contact, archaeologists hypothesize that the metallurgical techniques used to make the rings found in Mexico were learned by Mexican artisans from Ecuadorian counterparts. Which of the following would it be most useful to establish in order to evaluate the archaeologists’ hypothesis?

• A. Whether metal objects were traded from Ecuador to western Mexico during the seventh century
• B. Whether travel between western Mexico and Ecuador in the seventh century would have been primarily by land or by sea
• C. Whether artisans from western Mexico could have learned complex metallurgical techniques from their Ecuadorian counterparts without actually leaving western Mexico
• D. Whether metal tools were used in the seventh-century settlements in western Mexico
• E. Whether any of the techniques used in the manufacture of the metal rings found in western Mexico are still practiced among artisans in Ecuador today

Hint:

When evaluating hypotheses, consider what evidence would most directly support or challenge the proposed explanation.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the archaeologists' hypothesis.
The hypothesis suggests that Mexican artisans learned the complex metallurgical techniques from Ecuadorian counterparts. To evaluate this hypothesis, it’s important to consider whether these techniques could have been learned without direct contact between the two regions.
Step 2: Analyzing the options.
- (A) While trade could be relevant, it doesn’t directly address whether the techniques were learned through cultural contact.
- (B) Whether travel was by land or sea does not directly affect the likelihood of learning metallurgical techniques.
- (C) This is the correct answer. To evaluate the hypothesis, it’s important to determine whether it was possible for Mexican artisans to learn the techniques without direct contact.
- (D) This does not directly address the question of learning metallurgical techniques, but rather focuses on the use of metal tools.
- (E) While this is an interesting point, it doesn’t directly address how the techniques were learned by the Mexican artisans.
Step 3: Conclusion.
The correct answer is (C), as it addresses the key question of whether learning could occur without direct contact.