The correct option is D Plausible
The word 'Plausible' is the best fit for blank #44- making Option D) the correct answer. This is because it is the only word to appropriately follow the phrase after the blank, i.e 'bridge between'' both in terms of meaning and in correct grammatical context. This is because in sciences like archeology, any new links or discovery are at best, only plausible i.e possible and not 100% certain. All the other options are inappropriate. The other words have completely different meanings - conspiring would mean a secret plan; contentious would mean something that is debated and providential is completely unrelated.