60秒科学:12000年后才被发现的晚宴

The remains¹ of what may be the earliest known group feast have been identified in northern Israel.
科学家们在以色列的北部发现了有可能是已知的人类最早群体宴会的遗址。

Dinner Party Discovered 12,000 Years Later

We humans love excuses to gather for a rousing evening of community—featuring lots of food. Now researchers have evidence for the earliest known group feasting.

At a 12,000-year-old burial site in northern Israel, archaeologists found the remains of at least 71 tortoises and two wild cattle in specially² built hollows in a cave. The tortoise shells surrounded the remains of individuals who the scientists say were shamans. And there’s evidence that the animals were cooked and eaten. Based on the bones, the researchers estimate that the meat could have supported about 35 people, maybe more.

The discovery was published by researchers from the University of Connecticut and Hebrew University in Jerusalem in the Proceedings³ of the National Academy of Sciences.

The feast would have taken place right around the time that people were going from tribes of hunter-gatherers to settlements of farmers—the transition to early agriculture. As the region’s local population grew, competition increased for existing food sources. Settling down also meant that our ancestors were forced into contact with more people in a smaller area.

So, large community meals might have served to lubricate social connections and alleviate⁴ tensions. Much like dinner parties today
 

1 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

2 specially   

adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地

参考例句：

• They are specially packaged so that they stack easily.它们经过特别包装以便于堆放。
• The machine was designed specially for demolishing old buildings.这种机器是专为拆毁旧楼房而设计的。

3 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

4 alleviate   

v.减轻，缓和，缓解(痛苦等)

参考例句：

• The doctor gave her an injection to alleviate the pain.医生给她注射以减轻疼痛。
• Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。