0910G[North America Flying] Argument37 by haunteagle

haunteagleUID: 2609432

TOPIC: ARGUMENT37 - Woven baskets characterized by a particular distinctive pattern have previously been found only in the immediate vicinity of the prehistoric village of Palea and therefore were believed to have been unique to the Palean people. Recently, however, archaeologists discovered such a "Palean" basket in Lithos, an ancient village across the Brim River from Palea. The Brim River is very deep and broad, and so the ancient Paleans could only have crossed it by boat, but there is no evidence that the Paleans had boats. And boats capable of carrying groups of people and cargo were not developed until thousands of years after the Palean people disappeared. Moreover, Paleans would have had no need to cross the river-the woods around Palea are full of nuts, berries, and small game. It follows that the so-called Palean baskets were not unique to Palea.

The arguer intends to convince us that the Palean baskets are not unique by providing a series of evidence to show that the baskets could be found in a place where the Paleans cannot reach. The argument, while seems logical, has some flaws after reexamination.

The argument lies in a fundamental that the Palean could not reach the other bank of the river and they could not leave the baskets there. Therefore the Palean baskets were not unique to Paleans. Yet the argument confuses the notion of “reaching the other bank of river” and “crossing the river”. Paleans might circle the detour to reach the other bank. What is more, the basket is probably been carried to the other bank by former archaeologists who study the Palean baskets. The arguer should first prove that the Paleans can only reach the other bank by crossing the river and that the baskets are not moved by anyone.

The arguers provide evidence that the Palean did not have boats and they can only cross the deep and board Brim River by boat. According to already archaeological discovery, almost all ancient people built the boats with timber. Timber with delicate preserved is easily corrupted and the Paleans boat is probably corroded by the history. Even one accepts Paleans had no boat, the argument is not substantial because the arguer fails to rule out the possibility that the Lithos, living in the other bank of the river, could build boats. It is entirely possible that the Lithos travelled across the Brim River and carried the Palean baskets back. Moreover, the arguer further proved that the large enough boats were not available at that time. Yet we know a smaller one, maybe even a canoe, was enough for a single person to carry the basket across the Brim River. The non-existence of the large boat cannot prove the Paleans were unable to carry the baskets across the river.

Furthermore, the arguer tries to convince of us that the Palean would not cross the river to spread the method of weaving a basket by a fact that the Paleans had sufficient food. However, many alternative may be the reason of the crossing the river. Such alternatives include that inter-tribal marriage, natural disaster like flood and people's curiosity. Perhaps Palean brides married to handsome Lithoen grooms. Perhaps all these alternatives can explain some Paleans lived in Lithos and taught them how to weave baskets. Perhaps a sudden floor flew some Paleans to the other bank of the river. Or perhaps the ancients explored the circumstance just out of a sense of self-protection because the information of the surrounding is important. Before eliminating all these alternatives the arguer's claim is reasonable.