If only a small portion of houses has been excavated, how should the population estimate be treated?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: Provisional and subject to possible error
The governing concept is sampling limitation in archaeological interpretation. A small excavated group of houses may not represent the whole settlement because neighbourhoods can differ in size, function, wealth, and occupancy. Any population figure based on that limited sample must therefore be provisional and open to revision when more areas are excavated or new evidence appears. Option C is correct; the other choices wrongly treat an estimate as certain, final, or automatically accurate.
Frequently asked questions
What is the correct answer to this question?
Provisional and subject to possible error
Why is this the correct answer?
The governing concept is sampling limitation in archaeological interpretation. A small excavated group of houses may not represent the whole settlement because neighbourhoods can differ in size, function, wealth, and occupancy. Any population figure based on that limited sample must therefore be provisional and open to revision when more areas are excavated or new evidence appears. Option C is correct; the other choices wrongly treat an estimate as certain, final, or automatically accurate.
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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