Critical Reasoning

Determining the authenticity of purported pre-Columbian artifacts is never easy. Carbon-14 dating of these artifacts is often impossible due to contamination by radioactive palladium (which occurs naturally in the soils of Central and South America). However, historians and anthropologists have evolved two reliable criteria, which, utilized in combination, have proven effective for dating these artifacts. First, because authentic pre-Columbian artifacts characteristically occur in a coarse, granular matrix that is shifted by major earthquakes, they often exhibit the unique scratch patterns known as gridding. In addition, true pre-Columbian artifacts show a darkening in surface color that is caused by centuries of exposure to the minute amounts of magnesium in the soil of the Americas.
The criteria above would be LEAST useful in judging the authenticity of which of the following?
(A) An ax head of black obsidian, unearthed from a kitchen midden
(B) A pottery bowl with a red ocher design, found in the ruins of a temple
(C) A set of gold ear weights, ornamented with jasper pendants
(D) A black feather cape from a king’s burial vault
(E) A multicolored woven sash found near the gravesite of a slave

I am confused between D and E.

I think its E because one of the criteria is the change in the surface color.

the cape wouldnt show scratches which is another criteria and if its multi colored how can you examine the change in the color.

i think its D bcos - its a black cape and the darkening due to magnesium deposits may not be noticeable and since its in a vault - it would be protected form the force of the quakes and may not have scratches

whats the OA

lawalx wrote:i think its D bcos - its a black cape and the darkening due to magnesium deposits may not be noticeable and since its in a vault - it would be protected form the force of the quakes and may not have scratches

whats the OA

I agree. All of the other items in the answer choices are exposed to the elements, where as the Feather Cape is in a King's burial Vault.

IMO its E. because:
- a multi color woven sash cannot have scratches (how can a woven sash has scratches?)
- it is multicolor hence the black color may not be noticeable.

I dont think it is D because:
- the vault is in contact with the soil and may incorporate the magnesium properties from the soil (or get rotten and disintegrated) hence affecting the cape.

OA please?

i think it's E