19
Mar
Studying tools unearthed at a cave site on the western coast of Italy, archaeologist 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. Clamshells 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 __.
Number and Origin of Clamshell Tools Found at Different Levels Below the Surface in Neanderthal Cave
| Depth of tools found below surface in 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 |
Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to support the research team’s conclusion?
