纪录片《熟食造就了人类吗》 第25期：最早的烹饪证据

What makes Swartkrans really special

斯瓦特克朗斯的特别之处在于

is a unique collection of animal bones found in the same layer

同一岩层里发现了一组独特的动物遗骨

which Bob thinks are evidence that our ancestors could control fire.

鲍勃认为那是我们祖先使用火的证据

We suddenly found numerous examples of bone that had been burnt,

我们突然间发现了大量被灼烧过的遗骨

suggesting that a very repetitive process had been going on there

说明这是个重复发生的过程

and that bones were being regularly burnt in fires

还有在靠近山洞入口的地方

close to the cave's entrance.

那些骨头是定期焚烧的

In the process,

在人类的发展进程中

our ancestors had gone from being preyed² on by animals

我们祖先从被野兽捕食

to using fire to frighten them away and even to hunt them.

发展为用火驱赶野兽 甚至猎捕它们

Once prey¹, they were now predators³.

曾经的猎物成为了猎人

But for Travis,

但对于特拉维斯

the burnt bones represent an even more intriguing⁴ possibility.

烧焦的遗骨代表一个更有趣的可能性

Homo erectus might have used fire at Swartkrans in order to cook.

斯瓦特克朗斯的直立人有可能用火烹煮

If we could prove cooking at this site, it would be remarkable⁵.

如果能证明这个遗址有烹煮现象 将是个了不起的发现

This part of the site is a million years old,

这部分遗址有一百万年的历史了

so it would be the earliest evidence of cooking anywhere in the world.

所以这将是全世界最早的烹煮证据

1 prey   

n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨

参考例句：

• Stronger animals prey on weaker ones.弱肉强食。
• The lion was hunting for its prey.狮子在寻找猎物。

2 preyed   

v.掠食( prey的过去式和过去分词 )；掠食；折磨；（人）靠欺诈为生

参考例句：

• Remorse preyed upon his mind. 悔恨使他内心痛苦。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• He had been unwise and it preyed on his conscience. 他做得不太明智，这一直让他良心不安。 来自辞典例句

3 predators   

n.食肉动物( predator的名词复数 )；奴役他人者（尤指在财务或性关系方面）

参考例句：

• birds and their earthbound predators 鸟和地面上捕食它们的动物
• The eyes of predators are highly sensitive to the slightest movement. 捕食性动物的眼睛能感觉到最细小的动静。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 intriguing   

adj.有趣的；迷人的v.搞阴谋诡计(intrigue的现在分词)；激起…的好奇心

参考例句：

• These discoveries raise intriguing questions. 这些发现带来了非常有趣的问题。
• It all sounds very intriguing. 这些听起来都很有趣。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。