Garza disputes Patterson’s conclusion that music likely first arose in the Upper Paleolithic era. Patterson’s reasoning is that bone flutes from this period are the earliest evidence of music. In response, Garza points out that bone, which preserves well, is unusually prevalent in Upper Paleolithic artifacts. Earlier instruments made from less durable materials, like wood, would be less likely to survive.

She implies that music could have existed earlier, but, if so, evidence of it wouldn’t survive due to the perishable nature of the materials used. Thus, even though there are no surviving earlier musical artifacts, there could have been earlier music.

Garza argues that Patterson lacks enough evidence to reach his conclusion. Patterson relies on the set of all currently discovered ancient tools. But Garza says that, because some ancient tools may not have survived to the present, this sample isn’t definitive enough to support his conclusion.

Note that she isn’t saying that Patterson’s conclusion has to be false. It could be true, but he doesn’t have enough evidence to support it.