What is a key characteristic of ranked societies?

In ranked societies, a key characteristic is the presence of a settlement hierarchy. This indicates that there are defined social layers or ranks within the society, where individuals or groups have varying levels of access to resources and power based on their position within this structure. In such societies, individuals are recognized based on their status, which often correlates with lineage or wealth. This stratification contrasts with egalitarian societies, where individuals have roughly the same access to resources and social standing.

The other options do not accurately define ranked societies. For example, settlement autonomy refers to communities having independent control over their affairs, which could be present in various types of societies. A nomadic lifestyle is typically associated with societies that move regularly, often in search of resources, rather than establishing a hierarchy. Lastly, a classless structure implies an absence of socioeconomic stratification, which is fundamentally at odds with the characteristics of ranked societies where hierarchies are clearly established. Thus, settlement hierarchy is what distinctly defines ranked societies within anthropological study.