Number and Origin of Clamshell Tools Found at Different Levels Below the Surface in Neanderthal Cave

Depth of tools found below the surface in a cave (meters) Clamshells that Neanderthals collected from the beach Clamshells that Neanderthals harvested from the seafloor

3-4 99 33

6-7 1 0

4-5 2 0

2-3 7 0

5-6 18 7

Studying tools unearthed at a cave site on the western coast of Italy, archaeological Paola Villa and colleagues have determined that prehistoric Neanderthal groups fashioned them from shells of clams that they harvested from the seafloor while wading or diving or that washed up on the beach. Classhells become thin and eroded as they wash up on the beach, while those on the seafloor are smooth and sturdy, so the research team suspects that Neanderthals prized the tools made with seafloor shells. However, the team also concluded that those tools were likely more challenging to obtain, noting that _______

Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to support the research team's conclusion?

Question

Number and Origin of Clamshell Tools Found at Different Levels Below the Surface in Neanderthal Cave
Depth of tools found below the surface in a cave (meters)	Clamshells that Neanderthals collected from the beach	Clamshells that Neanderthals harvested from the seafloor
3-4	99	33
6-7	1	0
4-5	2	0
2-3	7	0
5-6	18	7

Studying tools unearthed at a cave site on the western coast of Italy, archaeological Paola Villa and colleagues have determined that prehistoric Neanderthal groups fashioned them from shells of clams that they harvested from the seafloor while wading or diving or that washed up on the beach. Classhells become thin and eroded as they wash up on the beach, while those on the seafloor are smooth and sturdy, so the research team suspects that Neanderthals prized the tools made with seafloor shells. However, the team also concluded that those tools were likely more challenging to obtain, noting that _______

Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to support the research team's conclusion?

Accepted Answer

at each depth below the surface in the cave, the difference in the numbers of tools of each type suggests that shells were easier to collect from the beach than to harvest from the seafloor.

Answer

the highest number of tools were at a depth of 3-4 meters below the surface, which suggests that the Neanderthal population at the site was highest during the related period of time.

Answer

at each depth below the surface in the cave, the difference in the numbers of tools of each type suggests that Neanderthals preferred to use clamshells from the beach because of their durability.

Answer

the higher number of tools at depths of 5-6 meters below the surface in the cave than at depths of 4-5 meters below the surface suggests that the size of clam populations changed over time.