Final answer:
George Milner may disagree with the high population estimates for Cahokia due to differing interpretations of archaeological evidence and methodological approaches to estimating ancient populations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Archaeologist George Milner disagrees with other archaeologists who estimate the Cahokian population at 50,000, likely due to a combination of archaeological, environmental, and methodological factors that affect population estimates. Populations of ancient cities such as Uruk are difficult to estimate accurately and are often the subject of scholarly debate. These debates revolve around the interpretation of archaeological remains, historical records, and environmental conditions that would have impacted the carrying capacity of the area during the time. In the case of Cahokia, differences in estimates might result from disparities in how residential areas are identified and extrapolated upon, the assumed average lifespan and mortality rates of Cahokians due to factors such as disease, and the archaeological evidence available for residential structures versus public or ceremonial spaces.