Final answer:
The basic social unit of foragers is the band, which is a small, mobile group of individuals connected by kinship and engaging in gathering and hunting. Bands maintain relationships with neighboring groups to access resources and are different from larger social structures like clans or tribes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The basic social unit of foragers is D. the band. Bands are small groups of individuals who form a community for the purpose of subsistence through gathering and hunting. These groups are characterized by their mobility and typically move across territories in search of resources. They often meet up with other bands seasonally at places such as water sources or areas with abundant food resources. Within these bands, subsistence activities are confined to their own territories, and they strive to maintain harmonious relationships with neighboring bands to ensure the sharing of resources during times of scarcity. Mobility, kinship systems, and sharing are vital components of band societies. The integrated social system of band societies is facilitated by cross-band friendships, marriages, and mutual respect for territorial boundaries. It's worth noting that terms such as tribe and clan can describe larger or differently organized social groups and can carry various connotations or government classifications, depending on the context and the specific indigenous community in question. Additionally, clans typically refer to groups larger than bands, often with long-lasting structured lineages, while tribes may be even larger entities with complex socio-political organization.