Question

Joan Gero's analysis of stone-tool use over time at the site of Huaricoto in highland Peru argues that

A) Female status may have been connected to stone-tool production during the early period, when the site was a ceremonial center
B) Female status may have been shifted to ceramic production during the later period, when the site had become a village settlement
C) Male status in the early period may have been connected to ceramic production during the early period, when the site was a ceremonial center
D) Women probably made and used stone tools during the later period, when the site had become a village settlement, but they were utilitarian flake tools

Answer 1

Joan Gero's analysis suggests a possibility of gender-related shifts in stone-tool use and production at Huaricoto, which indicate broader societal changes during the Neolithic period. Evidence of women's significant role in food processing and the flexibility of gender roles in the division of labor can be gleaned from archaeological findings and studies of similar periods and societies.

Step-by-step explanation:

Joan Gero's analysis of stone-tool use at the Huaricoto site in highland Peru is complex and multifaceted, reflecting broader changes in society and the roles of men and women within it. While Ebeling and Rowan's study of grinding tools in the Near East provides insight into the Neolithic Period and the onset of agriculture, Gero's research potentially indicates shifts in gender-related practices. The Neolithic period saw a transition from food gathering to food production, with the division of labor seemingly more adaptable than previously thought, as seen in instances of women hunting and men gathering.

Furthermore, skeletal evidence indicates considerable female labor in cereals grinding, pointing to an integral role of women in food processing. Considering the wider context of Neolithic societies, where some appear to have been matrilineal and women's activities were crucial to survival, one might infer that women's contributions, including their roles in both tool production and usage, would be graced with a certain level of respect and status. The study of archaeological sites not only helps in dating but also uncovers changes in cultural and social structures, which may reflect in Gero's findings of the role and status of women in the Huaricoto society over time.