If food vessels in a grave are empty should their ritual role be rejected?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: No, because organic food once placed in them may decay over time
Archaeologists must distinguish absence of preserved residue from absence of an original practice. Food is organic and can decay because of time, moisture, soil chemistry, microbes, and disturbance, while the vessel itself may survive. Its placement in a grave and association with other burial goods can still support a ritual interpretation. Option B is correct; A treats preservation failure as proof, while C and D make unsupported universal claims.
Frequently asked questions
What is the correct answer to this question?
No, because organic food once placed in them may decay over time
Why is this the correct answer?
Archaeologists must distinguish absence of preserved residue from absence of an original practice. Food is organic and can decay because of time, moisture, soil chemistry, microbes, and disturbance, while the vessel itself may survive. Its placement in a grave and association with other burial goods can still support a ritual interpretation. Option B is correct; A treats preservation failure as proof, while C and D make unsupported universal claims.
Which subject and chapter does this question cover?
This is a Class 12 History question. Chapter: Bricks, Beads and Bones. Topic: how historians use archaeological evidence.
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