Archaeologist Dr. Vasquez contends that the inhabitants of an ancient Andean settlement maintained extensive long-distance trade networks, in contrast to earlier scholars who described the community as largely self-sufficient and isolated.
Which finding from a recent excavation, if true, would most strongly support Dr. Vasquez's contention?
- A
Pottery shards found at the site exhibit decorative styles unique to the local region.
- B
Some buildings at the site were constructed using locally quarried stone.
- Ccheck_circle
Tools at the site were made from obsidian whose chemical signature matches a quarry over 600 kilometers away.
- D
The settlement contains evidence of large-scale agricultural terracing.
Explanation
B provides direct material evidence — obsidian sourced 600 km away — that the community engaged in long-distance trade. A and D suggest local self-sufficiency; C is unrelated to trade.