TPO 33 Integrated task

The subject both the reading passage and the lecture discusses is about the possible theories of purposes of creation of carved stones around 4,000 years ago, in late Neolithic period. According to the passage, the author provides three likely purposes for creation of carved stone and explained them briefly. On the other hand, the lecturer cast serious doubt on the claims made in the passage.
The first theory mentioned in the passage claims that the carved stones could be used as a weapon during the fight or hunting. The reason the author claims this is because of the existence of holes in the balls and grooves on some of them. This evidence can prove that utilizing a cord, they swing the ball around and throw it. Whilst, the author contradicts this theory, since she believes if they had been used as weapon, there must be evidences of cracks on the carved stone, while it seems the balls are well preserved and there is no fracture mark on them.
Second theory proposed by the author says that the stones were used as weights for measuring. This idea came from the uniform size of the stones which make them applicable for a measuring system. In contrary, the lecturer points out while the size of the balls is the same, but the materials are different, hence, the density varies between balls which leads to different weight at the equal volume. She elaborated on this by bringing a subtle example of a hand full of rock and another full of paper. Whereas, both volumes are equal, the weight differs considerably.
The third and the last theory mentioned in the passage claims that the stone possibly were used as status since there were subtle carving on them. But the professor mentions that there were too simple to be used as statue. Moreover, she properly points out that, if they had been used as status, there would be evidences of these carved stones in the grave, where an important person buried, while such evidences did not find.