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37Woven 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.
In this argument, the arguer recommends that Woven baskets which were also discovered in Lithos were not unique to Palea. To prove this recommendation, the arguer points out that as Brim River is very deep and broad, the ancient Paleans could only have crossed it by boat while no evidence proves that the Paleans had boats. Meanwhile boats capable of carrying groups of people and cargo were not developed until thousands of years after the Palean people disappeared. Moreover, the arguer also points out that since Palea are full of nuts, berries and small game, Paleans would have had no need to cross the river. At first glance, the recommendation is specific and convincing. Close scrutiny to each of these factors, however, reveals that none of them lend credible support to the recommendation.
First of all, the arguer provides no information about the Brim River in prehistoric time. Consider so long a time has passed, although the Brim River is very broad and deep now, it is quite possible the river was very narrow and easy to cross then. Even the river was the same deep and broad, boat is not the unique tool to cross the river, and bridge is also an alternative choice. What's more, hardly can the arguer equate no evidence as no possibility. After all, prehistoric era is too distant for archaeologists to study. Perhaps Paleans did have boats but the evidences were ruined. Without considering and ruling out all these possibilities, the conclusion that Palean baskets were not unique to Palea can not hold water.
Secondly, boats capable of carrying groups of people and cargo were not necessary for people to carry baskets to Lithos. A small boat is enough for people to achieve Lithos with baskets. So the fact boats with large capacity were not developed until thousands of years after the Palean people disappeared carries no more weight to the conclusion.
Thirdly, even Palean people can not cross the river. The arguer neglects another possibility-people in Lithos may cross the river to Palea. The arguer provides no information about the people in Lithos. It is quite possible people in Lithos had arrived the Palea and taken such a basket back. Without give adequate responds to this question, I will suspend to convince the conclusion.
Fourthly, it is ridiculous for arguer to assume that as Palea are full of nuts, berries, and small games, there is no need for Paleans to cross the river. For example, Paleans needed to exchange baskets for other materials with people in Lithos. Unless the arguer can rule out this possibility, the conclusion will be unconvincing.
Finally, the people after Palean people disappeared in Palea are also possible take such baskets to Lithos.
To sum up, the recommendation is unconvincing. To strengthen it, the arguer has to prove that the Brim River was very deep and broad then and no bridge existed. Meanwhile, the arguer also needs to rule out the possibility that people never reached Palea. To bolster the recommendation, the arguer should substantiate that there are no other needs for Paleans to cross the river. Furthermore, confirm evidences to prove that Paleans had no boats are also essential. |
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