In this argument the author employs a variety of evidence about Paleans,
including their geographical isolation and the discovery of a basket,
to argue that the baskets could have been made by non-Palean cultures.
We may accept part of the author’s claim regarding the Paleans,
but in the absence of some critical evidence, we cannot accept the conclusion that
the Paleans have no means of transporting one of their baskets to other regions.
In the first place, the author assumes that the Paleans could not have reached
Lithos because no Palean boat has been found. However, the author is treating a lack of
proof that the Paleans could have possessed some kind of boat as sufficient proof that
they did not possess any such vehicles at all. From the passage we are only illustrate that
the Paleans did not have boats. Maybe the materials Paleans used to build their boats
were not durable, thus the wreclcage cannot be found today. Or perhaps the places where Paleans
left their boats were not excavated by people. We need concrete evidence that the Paleans did not
master the skill of shipbuilding.
Granted that the Paleans did possess no boats, we still need evidence to
prove that the basket could not have arrived in Lithos by other means.
Although the Brim River is deep and broad at present, it might be shallower and
narrower at Palean time, or at least some sections of the river were less deep and
broad at that time. If so, the Paleans could have crossed the river without boat.
Some archaeological and geological records or documents about the condition of the Brim River
at ancient time might be useful for evaluating the argument.
Assuming that the river was also deep and broad in ancient time and can be crossed only by boat,
there is a possibility that some vehicles were in the possession of a second culture with whom
the Palean people kept in contact. The second culture might have brought the discovered basket to
Lithos during or other activities. Also possibly, the basket may have been brought to Lithos by
some other people latterly after the disappearance of the Paleans, or may have drifted to
the site due to geological accidents such as a flood. The author should provide evidence to show
that Paleans had no significant contact with other cultures who possessed boats, and that
the basket could not be carried to the site through other methods such as trading or some accidents.
In sum, the conclusion is hastily reached. Before the claim that other cultures could have produced
the baskets is accepted, the author should provide concrete evidence to show that Paleans were
never capable of building boats. The author also needs to rule out other possible ways by which
the basket could travel to other places. Otherwise, we still cannot rule out the possibility
that the baskets were unique to Palean culture.