Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen Zilhāo's hypothesis regarding the ornaments found at Neandertal sites?

• A. The ornaments have been dated to coincide with early human artifacts
• B. They predate modern-human sites
• C. Neandertals primarily used bones for tools
• D. The ornaments were found scattered across multiple continents

Answer: (B)

To strengthen Zilhāo's hypothesis regarding the ornaments found at Neandertal sites, it's crucial to demonstrate that these artifacts hold relevance to Neandertal culture and their timeline in relation to modern humans. The assertion that the ornaments predate modern-human sites reinforces the idea that Neandertals were capable of creating and utilizing symbolic objects before the arrival of anatomically modern humans. This notion implies that the capacity for symbolic thought and cultural expression was not exclusive to modern humans, but also present in Neandertals, thereby supporting Zilhāo's hypothesis about the cognitive abilities of Neandertals and the significance of these ornaments in their cultural practices.

The other options, while interesting, do not directly bolster the hypothesis in the same way. For example, dating the ornaments to coincide with early human artifacts could suggest potential cultural exchange but does not necessarily assert that Neandertals also created such objects. Similarly, noting that Neandertals primarily used bones for tools does not provide evidence for the symbolic nature of the ornaments. Lastly, finding ornaments scattered across multiple continents could imply widespread usage or awareness but does not specifically strengthen the link to Neandertal culture as effectively as establishing a chronology that predates modern humans. This makes the assertion that