archaeologist petra vaiglova, anthropologist xinyi liu, and their colleagues investigated the domestication…

archaeologist petra vaiglova, anthropologist xinyi liu, and their colleagues investigated the domestication of farm animals in china during the bronze age (approximately 2000 to 1000 bce). by analyzing the chemical composition of the bones of sheep, goats, and cattle from this era, the team determined that wild plants made up the bulk of sheep’s and goats’ diets, while the cattle’s diet consisted largely of millet, a crop cultivated by humans. the team concluded that cattle were likely raised closer to human settlements, whereas sheep and goats were allowed to roam farther away. which finding, if true, would most strongly support the team’s conclusion? analysis of the animal bones showed that the cattle’s diet also consisted of wheat, which humans widely cultivated in china during the bronze age. further investigation of sheep and goat bones revealed that their diets consisted of small portions of millet as well. cattle’s diets generally require larger amounts of food and a greater variety of nutrients than do sheep’s and goats’ diets. the diets of sheep, goats, and cattle were found to vary based on what the farmers in each bronze age settlement could grow.

archaeologist petra vaiglova, anthropologist xinyi liu, and their colleagues investigated the domestication of farm animals in china during the bronze age (approximately 2000 to 1000 bce). by analyzing the chemical composition of the bones of sheep, goats, and cattle from this era, the team determined that wild plants made up the bulk of sheep’s and goats’ diets, while the cattle’s diet consisted largely of millet, a crop cultivated by humans. the team concluded that cattle were likely raised closer to human settlements, whereas sheep and goats were allowed to roam farther away. which finding, if true, would most strongly support the team’s conclusion? analysis of the animal bones showed that the cattle’s diet also consisted of wheat, which humans widely cultivated in china during the bronze age. further investigation of sheep and goat bones revealed that their diets consisted of small portions of millet as well. cattle’s diets generally require larger amounts of food and a greater variety of nutrients than do sheep’s and goats’ diets. the diets of sheep, goats, and cattle were found to vary based on what the farmers in each bronze age settlement could grow.

Answer

Brief Explanations:

To support the conclusion that cattle were near human settlements (eating human - cultivated millet) and sheep/goats roamed far (eating wild plants), we analyze each option:

  • Option 1: Cattle eating another human - cultivated crop (wheat) further shows they were near human settlements, strengthening the link between diet (human - cultivated crops) and proximity to humans.
  • Option 2: Sheep and goats eating a small amount of millet weakens the idea that they roamed far (as it implies some proximity to human - cultivated areas), so it doesn't support.
  • Option 3: The dietary requirements of cattle, sheep, and goats don't relate to their proximity to human settlements, so it's irrelevant.
  • Option 4: The variation of diets based on what farmers could grow doesn't support the conclusion about the proximity of the animals to human settlements.

Answer: A. Analysis of the animal bones showed that the cattle’s diet also consisted of wheat, which humans widely cultivated in China during the Bronze Age.