（8.13）Argument33【超越自我小组】第九次作业

hermituforestUID: 2354296

TOPIC: ARGUMENT33 - The following report appeared in an archaeology journal.

"The discovery of distinctively shaped ceramic pots at various prehistoric sites scattered over a wide area has led archaeologists to ask how the pots were spread. Some believe the pot makers migrated to the various sites and carried the pots along with them; others believe the pots were spread by trade and their makers remained in one place. Now, analysis of the bones of prehistoric human skeletons can settle the debate: high levels of a certain metallic element contained in various foods are strongly associated with people who migrated to a new place after childhood. Many of the bones found near the pots at a few sites showed high levels of the metallic element. Therefore, it must be that the pots were spread by migration, not trade."
WORDS: 303          TIME: 00:41:58          DATE: 2008-8-13 23:55:54

I do not think that the debate can be settled based on the analysis of bones of prehistoric human skeletons. There are some questions must be answered.

First, I want to ask the speaker whether the high levels of certain metallic element contained in various food are only associated with people who have pots next to their bones. If the high levels are not only associated with the pots people but also other people without, these levels cannot be the criterion to distinguish the migrants from others and the conclusion made by the speaker is unconvincing.

Even if the high levels of certain metallic element contained in various foods are only associated with people who have pots next to their bones, I also want to know how these migrant got these pots. They made them or they got them from traders? The speaker only told us the pots have distinctive shape but not their application. Common sense tells us there is no need to make the pots with distinctive shape unless they have special application. One possibility is that shape is designed for filling water for travellers. If so, every migrant would buy a pot from traders or they might die with thirst during the trip. If so, it is easy to understand why every migrant has at least one pot and negative the speaker’s assertion.

To better understand whether the pots were spread by migrants, we must know whether the migrants with high levels of certain metallic element in various food migrate from one place. If not, the migrants would have nothing to do with the pots’ cradle because there is only one pot cradle.

In conclusion, the speaker cannot provide enough clear evidences to prove that the pots were spread by migration to settle the debate. He must continue his research.

感觉这篇argument思路很乱。。欢迎拍砖