Final answer:
The ancient Mesopotamians most likely acquired cedar by trading for it with the Phoenicians or other societies, as cedar was scarce in their own geography.
Step-by-step explanation:
Considering the ancient Mesopotamians' need for cedar and their geographical location, the most likely way they would have acquired cedar is by trading for it (Option A). As given in the details, the region of Mesopotamia was known to have limited resources of timber, and as such, they often had to procure such resources from distant locations or through trade. The Phoenicians, who were located in today's Lebanon and had abundant cedar forests, were among the known trading partners of the ancient Mesopotamians.
They had established trade routes for exchanging valuable goods like copper, tin, textiles and indeed, cedar. For instance, the Egyptians, who also valued cedar for shipbuilding, maintained a trading relationship with the Phoenicians for cedar wood. The Egyptians would provide other goods and supervise the safe passage of the cedar shipments. Therefore, it is logical to infer that the ancient Mesopotamians, too, would have traded for cedar from the Phoenicians or other sources.
So, in summary, trade was a cornerstone of ancient Mesopotamian society and it played a crucial role in their acquisition of resources like cedar, which were scarce in their own geography.
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