Skara Brae
美音、自然拼读、分级阅读与词汇复习
Where Is Skara Brae?
斯卡拉·布莱在哪?
Table of Contents Introduction.
导言表。
4 The Winds of Orkney.
4"奥克尼之风".
5 Built to Last.
5 建为倒数.
7 Life in an Ancient Village.
7 在古老的村庄生活。
9 Older Than Old.
9 老了,老了。
12 Skara Brae Today.
12 Skara Brae Today. (英语).
14 Glossary.
14 词汇表。
16 NORTH SEA ATLANTIC OCEAN Ireland Northern Ireland Orkney Islands Skara Brae Scotland ATLANTIC OCEAN AFRICA EUROPE OCEAN INDIAN Scotland England Wales Introduction William Watt was walking the grounds of his Scottish estate in February 1850.
北爱尔兰 Orkney群岛 Skara Brae 苏格兰 大洋洲 欧洲 印度洋 1850年2月威廉·瓦特正在他苏格兰地产的地上行走.
A terrible storm had struck the Orkney Islands, which sit off the northeastern coast of Scotland.
一场可怕的风暴袭击了坐落在苏格兰东北海岸外的奥克尼群岛.
The people of Orkney were used to storms, but this one was especially rough.
奥尔克尼人习惯了暴风雨,但这个特别粗糙.
Shrieking winds and high tides had reshaped the land, ripping grass from the earth and piling sand in fields.
狂风和高潮重塑了土地 从地上取出草地 在地上堆起沙子
As Watt surveyed the damage, something caught his eye.
当Watt调查损失时 他看到了一些东西
He noticed stone walls protruding from a mound where the grass had been peeled away.
他注意到从一个被剥去草地的山丘上挖出石墙。
Watt knew that local legends told of ancient burial tombs hidden underground.
瓦特知道当地传说中隐藏在地下的古墓葬.
Could those stories be true?
那些故事是真的吗?
Watt was curious.
瓦特很好奇 瓦特很好奇
He hired a scholar named George Petrie to excavate and examine the site.
他聘请了一位叫George Petrie的学者去发掘并考察遗址.
Petrie’s work was the first step in revealing the secrets of the settlement known as Skara Brae.
Petrie的作品是揭露被称为Skara Brae的定居点秘密的第一步。
Ancient people built homes into the stone mounds at Skara Brae.
古人把房屋建入斯卡拉布雷的石丘.
The Winds of Orkney Excavating the Skara Brae site was no easy task.
奥尔克尼之风挖掘斯卡拉布雷遗址并非易事.
This flat, treeless island offered little protection from strong sea breezes blowing in from the west.
这个平坦而无树的岛屿 几乎无法抵御 从西部吹入的强烈海风
The winds eat away the shoreline and carry sand far inland.
风会吞噬海岸线 将沙子带到内陆
Petrie conducted his work in these blustery conditions.
Petrie在这种混乱的条件下开展工作。
He gradually uncovered the remains of four ancient buildings.
他逐渐发现了四所古建筑的残骸.
Each one had curved stone walls nearly 2.
每道石墙几乎都弯曲 2. 联合国
4 meters (8 ft.)
4米(8英尺)长.
thick.
厚点。
Petrie was astounded not only by the good condition of the structures but also by what was found inside them.
Petrie不仅对结构的良好条件,而且对内部发现的东西感到惊讶。
Stone furniture and hearths suggested that the buildings were once homes.
石头家具和灵车表明这些建筑曾经是住宅.
The sands that had hidden the ruins had also helped preserve them.
隐藏了废墟的沙地也帮助保存了它们.
What’s in a Name?
名字里写着什么?
The site was originally called Skerrabra or Styerrabrae —the name of the mound under which the entire village was buried.
该地最初取名斯克拉布拉(Skerrabra)或斯地拉布拉(Stierrabrae)——是整个村庄被埋葬的山丘的名称.
The name “Skara Brae” is thought to be a variation.
“Skara Brae”这个名称被认为是一种变体。
However, no one knows what the people who actually lived there called it.
然而,没有人知道真正住在那里的人叫什么来着。
Petrie spent over ten years carefully digging and writing about what he found at the site.
Petrie花了十多年时间仔细地挖掘和写下他在现场发现的东西.
He thought the stone houses were part of a settlement dating back to 500 bce.
他认为石屋是一块可以追溯到500bce的定居点的一部分.
In 1868, he published a scholarly article about Skara Brae.
1868年他发表了一篇关于斯卡拉·布雷的学术文章.
After Petrie concluded his work, the Skara Brae site remained untouched for years.
在佩特利完成他的工作后,斯卡拉-布雷遗址多年未受破坏.
Then several unfortunate events occurred.
随后发生了多起不幸事件.
Around 1913, thieves raided the site and stole valuable artifacts.
1913年左右,盗贼突袭了遗址并盗取了珍贵的文物.
In 1925, another terrible storm struck the area, and strong winds damaged some of the stone structures.
1925年,又一股可怕的风暴袭击了该地区,强风也损坏了部分石结构.
The Watt estate transferred the guardianship of Skara Brae to authorities to protect it from the elements.
瓦特庄园将Skara Brae的监护权移交给了当局,以保护它免受这些要素的伤害。
The authorities decided to build a seawall to help protect the ruins from the bay’s winds and waves.
当局决定建造一道防波堤来帮助保护废墟免受海湾的风浪.
The ruins at Skara Brae are thought to consist of stone houses, passages, and what may have been a workshop.
斯卡拉布雷的废墟被认为是由石屋,通道所组成,以及可能是作坊.
Built to Last The seawall construction renewed interest in Skara Brae.
建为倒数 海墙建筑重新对斯卡拉·布雷产生了兴趣.
Through the twentieth century, Scottish authorities continued to excavate the site.
在整个20世纪,苏格兰当局继续出土该地.
They unearthed another four buildings, bringing the total to eight.
他们又挖出四所建筑,使总数达到八所.
The excavations revealed many interesting details about Skara Brae.
发掘揭示出许多有关斯卡拉·布雷的有趣的细节.
It seemed the structures had been partially buried on purpose.
看来这些建筑是故意被部分掩埋的。
The back of each house was built into a midden—a heap of shells, bones, broken pottery, and trash.
每所房子的后部被建造成一个中层 -- -- 一堆贝壳、骨头、破碎的陶器和垃圾。
Such construction may seem strange, but it made sense for the Orkney climate.
这种建筑可能看起来很奇怪,但对于奥尔克尼气候来说是有意义的.
Stone houses built into the ground were sheltered from the wind and rain.
地上所建的石屋被避去风雨.
The homes’ doorways were all connected by stone-covered passages.
房屋的门道都由被石头覆盖的通道连接。
This feature was also due to the environment.
这一特点也是由于环境造成的。
People could move between houses without being hit by the island’s constant winds.
人们可以在房屋之间移动,而不会被岛上常有的风所击中。
The village had a water drainage system and even primitive indoor toilets.
该村有排水系统,甚至有原始的室内厕所.
Each home had a similar design.
每个家都有类似的设计.
There were no windows, which helped protect people from the wind, rain, and cold.
没有窗户,它帮助保护人们免受风、雨和寒冷的影响。
The claylike soil from the midden reached over the walls to form a roof.
中地出土的粘土到达了墙上形成一个屋顶.
A low doorway opened into a single large room with a central hearth that gave off heat and light.
低门道开入一间有中心发热和发光的单大房.
Smoke exited through a hole in the roof.
烟从天花板上的一个洞里冒出.
On one wall were stone shelves that served as a storage unit.
墙上有石架作为储存装置。
A stone seat was in front of an object that scientists think is a dresser.
一个石座在科学家们认为是梳妆台的物体前.
Although the significance of this object is unknown, it is thought to have been an important part of each household.
虽然这个物体的意义不明,但被认为是每个家庭的重要组成部分.
On either side of the hearth were stone box beds.
教堂的两边是石盒床。
One building at the edge of the settlement had a larger hearth and no beds.
定居点边缘的一栋建筑有一个更大的公道,没有床位。
Experts think it may have been a gathering place or shared workshop.
专家们认为,这可能是一个聚会地或共同研讨会。
Because trees cannot grow on the islands, nothing was made of wood.
因为岛上的树木不能生长,所以没有用木材做成.
The builders of Skara Brae used the sturdiest materials available to them—sandstone and turf.
Skara Brae的建造者使用了他们所掌握的最坚固的材料——砂石和地盘。
The homes at Skara Brae were attached by passageways.
Skara Brae的住宅由通道连接。
Each house also had a door that could be locked with a bar made of bone.
每所房子还有一扇门,可以用由骨头制成的酒吧来锁.
Life in an Ancient Village The sands of time not only preserved the stone structures but also kept the items inside them intact.
古村里的生活 时间的沙子不仅保存了石结构,还保存了其中的物品完好无损.
The artifacts told much about how the people in the settlement lived.
文物讲述了居民点居民的生活.
Clumps of native grass and other plants were used as cushions to make hard stone beds more comfortable.
原生草和其他植物被用为衬垫来使硬石床更舒适.
Tools, animal bones, and other artifacts showed that these people fished, raised sheep and pigs, and grew wheat and barley.
工具,动物骨骼等文物显示这些人捕鱼,养羊养猪,并种植小麦和大麦.
Artifacts such as combs, pins, and jewelry were made from animal bones and teeth.
梳子,针头等艺术品和首饰由动物骨头和牙齿所出.
The residents of Skara Brae were creative as well.
Skara Brae的居民也具有创造性。
Finely crafted pottery, buttons, and jewelry show that these people had an appreciation of beautiful things.
精心制作的陶器,纽扣和珠宝表明,这些人对美丽的东西有欣赏.
Balls and dice discovered among the ruins suggest that they also enjoyed having fun and playing games.
在废墟中发现的球和骰子表明,他们也喜欢玩乐和游戏.
What the ruins did not include is equally interesting.
废墟里没有的东西同样有趣
No weapons were found at the site.
在现场没有发现任何武器。
The knives found there were used only as tools.
在那里发现的刀被仅仅用作工具.
Skara Brae seems to have been a peaceful agricultural community.
斯卡拉·布雷似乎是一个和平的农业社区.
There was also no indication of what eventually happened to the community.
也没有迹象表明社区最终发生了什么。
Nothing indicates that a struggle took place.
没有任何迹象表明发生了斗争。
The ruins also do not suggest that a natural disaster such as an earthquake sent people fleeing for their lives.
废墟也没有表明地震等自然灾害导致人们逃生.
Do You Know?
你知道吗?
The site at Skara Brae is so famous that it even attracted the interest of fictional scientists!
Skara Brae网站出名了 甚至吸引了虚构科学家的兴趣!
Indiana Jones gave a lecture about Skara Brae in the 2008 movie The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
印第安纳·琼斯在2008年电影"水晶骷髅之王国"(The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull)中为斯卡拉·布雷作了演讲.
Experts have several theories explaining why residents may have abandoned the settlement.
专家有几种理论解释居民可能放弃定居的原因.
Some claim a terrible storm similar to the one in 1850 drove them away.
有人声称一场与1850年类似的可怕风暴将他们赶走.
Others guess that perhaps blowing sand accumulated on the land, making it harder to farm.
其他人猜测,也许吹出沙子 积累在地上, 使它更难耕作。
Another theory suggests that the residents of Skara Brae may have simply moved away to more productive fields.
另一种理论认为斯卡拉·布雷的居民可能只是迁入了更有生产力的田地.
For now, most scholars agree that they just don’t know why people left.
现在,大多数学者都同意他们只是不知道人们为什么离开。
Scotland’s Pompeii The ruins at Skara Brae are often called “Scotland’s Pompeii.”
苏格兰的蓬佩伊 Skara Brae的废墟常被称作"苏格兰的蓬佩"(Scotland's Pompeii).
Although both Skara Brae and Pompeii are well- preserved ancient villages, there are big differences.
虽然斯卡拉布雷和庞贝两地都是保存完好的古村落,但差别很大.
Pompeii was devastated in 79 ce by the eruption of a volcano.
庞贝于79年被火山爆发所破坏.
Thousands of people and livestock were quickly buried by a carpet of thick ash.
数千人和牲畜被厚灰的地毯迅速掩埋.
Skara Brae was buried by sand, but this process was gradual and not due to a single terrible event.
斯卡拉·布雷被沙子所掩埋,但这一过程是渐进的,并不是因为一个单一的可怕事件.
That is why no intact skeletons have been found at Skara Brae.
因此在斯卡拉布雷没有找到完整的骨架.
Pompeii Older Than Old Scientists in the mid-1900s were not certain why Skara Brae was deserted.
Pompeii Old than Old Scientists in 19世纪中叶 尚不确定为什么Skara Brae被抛弃。
They were, however, fairly sure they knew when it was first occupied.
然而,他们相当确信,他们知道最初占领的时间。
They thought that Skara Brae came into existence around 500 bce.
他们认为斯卡拉·布雷在500bce左右诞生.
By 1970, though, new technology had been developed that proved them wrong.
然而,到1970年,新技术已经开发出来,证明它们是错误的。
Scientists had come up with an accurate way to figure out the age of certain materials, called carbon dating.
科学家们想出了一个准确的方法 来了解某些材料的年代, 所谓的碳约会。
By measuring the amount of carbon that is present in something, experts can determine just how old it is.
通过测量某种事物中存在的碳量,专家们可以确定它的年代。
Scientists did this with some of the plants and fibers buried at Skara Brae.
科学家用一些被埋在斯卡拉布雷的植物和纤维做了这个.
They discovered that the settlement was much, much older than people had thought.
他们发现定居点比人们想象的要长得多。
Skara Brae, it turns out, was actually built around 3200 bce during the Neolithic period, or Stone Age.
事实证明,斯卡拉·布雷(Skara Brae)实际上是在新石器时代,即石器时代所建造的,大约为3200 bce.
This meant the site was older than the Egyptian pyramids!
这说明这个地点比埃及金字塔还老!
Carbon dating also showed that the site had been inhabited for six hundred years.
碳约会也表明该地有人居住了六百年.
Carbon Carbon is an element common to all living things.
碳是所有活物共同的元素.
Carbon-12 and carbon-13 are stable forms of this element.
碳-12和碳-13是这一元素的稳定形式.
This means they do not change over time.
这意味着它们不会随着时间的推移而改变。
Carbon-14, however, is not stable.
然而,碳-14并不稳定。
It decays as time passes.
它随着时间的流逝而衰败。
Carbon-14 is measured in the carbon dating process.
碳-14是在碳相交过程中被测量的.
Skara Brae was a prehistoric Stone Age village.
斯卡拉·布雷是史前石器时代的村庄.
Its perfect condition gave experts a better understanding of how Neolithic people lived.
它的完美条件让专家们更好地了解了新石器时代的人是如何生活的.
During the Neolithic period, people began growing crops and caring for animals.
在新石器时代,人们开始种植作物并照顾动物.
The well-preserved site was one of the first human farming settlements in Britain.
保存完好的遗址是英国最早的人类农业定居点之一.
It had a strong, self-sustaining culture.
它有一个强大的,自我维持的文化。
Skara Brae is just one of several Neolithic sites in Orkney.
斯卡拉·布雷只是奥尔克尼的多处新石器遗址之一.
The islands have many prehistoric structures.
群岛有许多史前结构.
A large, multichambered tomb called Maeshowe rises on West Mainland.
西内地上兴起了一座叫"梅肖"(Maesshowe)的多层大型墓.
The Standing Stones of Stenness form a ring a short distance away.
平起平起地的斯通斯(Stenness)形成相距很短的环.
Two large slabs seem to act as a window through which Maeshowe can be seen.
两块大板子似乎起到窗口的作用,通过它可以看到梅肖.
Neolithic Scotland Maeshowe The Standing Stones of Stenness Skara Brae Today The Neolithic village of Skara Brae was an important historical find.
新石器时代的苏格兰 Maesshowe 今天的 Stenness Skara Brae 的常磐石 斯卡拉布雷新石器村是一个重要的历史发现.
In 1999, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) classified it as a World Heritage Site.
1999年被联合国教科文组织列为世界遗产.
This means that Skara Brae was officially recognized as an important historical site.
这意味着斯卡拉·布雷被官方承认为一个重要的历史遗址.
It is legally protected by international treaty.
它受到国际条约的法律保护。
Because of its importance, thousands of visitors travel to Scotland’s Orkney Islands each year.
由于其重要性,每年有上千名游客前往苏格兰的奥尔克尼群岛.
Guided tours allow them to visit the homes of people who lived fifty centuries ago.
导游可以让他们参观50个世纪前生活的人们的家.
Historians continue to study the site and share what they learn about this ancient village.
历史学家继续研究该地并分享他们对这个古村的了解.
Perhaps one day they will discover why the people of Skara Brae abandoned their settlement by the sea.
也许有一天他们会发现为什么斯卡拉·布雷人民放弃了他们在海上的定居.
Skara Brae has attracted thousands of visitors who hope to explore a prehistoric village up close.
Skara Brae吸引了成千上万的游客,他们希望探索一个史前村庄,靠近这里.