Question

flint artifacts dating to 800,000 to 1,000,000 years ago have been recovered from the evron quarry in israel. likely created by the hominin homo erectus, the artifacts have no visual features suggesting that they were exposed to fire, leading some scholars to conclude that these hominins had not acquired control of fire. but zane shipton and colleagues recently used a new method to determine whether these artifacts had been exposed to temperatures above 400°c (the typical temperature campfires reach) and concluded that the hominins who inhabited the site may have had control of fire.
which choice best describes data in the graph that support the teams conclusion?
choose 1 answer:
a all of the artifacts were exposed to temperatures above 100°c.
b artifacts l5_239 and k3_18 were exposed to temperatures of approximately 550°c and 650°c, respectively.
c artifact k3_9 was exposed to a higher temperature than was artifact k5_106.
d artifacts k5_106 and k3_9 were exposed to temperatures above 400°c.

Explanation:

Step1: Identify key - temperature

The conclusion is that hominins may have had control of fire, and fire - campfires reach above 400°C.

Step2: Analyze options

Option A: Just above 100°C is not sufficient to indicate fire control. Option B: Artifacts L5, 239 (≈550°C) and K3, 18 (≈650°C) are above 400°C, which supports the conclusion. Option C: Comparing two artifacts' temperatures without meeting the 400°C threshold is not relevant. Option D: Temperatures of K5, 106 and K3, 9 are not above 400°C.

Answer:

B. Artifacts L5, 239 and K3, 18 were exposed to temperatures of approximately 550°C and 650°C, respectively.