2015-08-28 BBC:巨石阵行动:被埋藏的秘密-20

 This is one of the larger galleries spaces down here in the mines. A lot of them are far more restricted than this. Because the reservation is so incredible, we’ve still got a whole series of their antelope’s peaks, the tools they were using down here to chip away at a chalk, now using the end sometimes to batter¹ away blocks and also to lift a flint up. The high grade flint found in this depth motivated the prehistoric² miners. It’s some of the flore and flints they were looking for and you can see its jade³ black color. It fractures beautifully and still rays sharply. Russell also believes the mine severed⁴ an important ritualistic role. Moving towards adulthood⁵ in a right passage you need to be doing something that is quite extreme and coming down here into the mine, crawling into the galleries, into the unknown and into the mysterious, digging up the flint and propelling it back up to the surface. It could move you from child to adult, especially as an audience out there waiting for you to emerge with your flint in hand. Excavated⁶ human bones from another Neolithic⁷ flint mine, highlighted the dangers miners faced.

1 batter   

v.接连重击；磨损；n.牛奶面糊；击球员

参考例句：

• The batter skied to the center fielder.击球手打出一个高飞球到中外野手。
• Put a small quantity of sugar into the batter.在面糊里放少量的糖。

2 prehistoric   

adj.（有记载的）历史以前的，史前的，古老的

参考例句：

• They have found prehistoric remains.他们发现了史前遗迹。
• It was rather like an exhibition of prehistoric electronic equipment.这儿倒像是在展览古老的电子设备。

3 jade   

n.玉石；碧玉；翡翠

参考例句：

• The statue was carved out of jade.这座塑像是玉雕的。
• He presented us with a couple of jade lions.他送给我们一对玉狮子。

4 severed   

v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂

参考例句：

• The doctor said I'd severed a vessel in my leg. 医生说我割断了腿上的一根血管。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We have severed diplomatic relations with that country. 我们与那个国家断绝了外交关系。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 adulthood   

n.成年，成人期

参考例句：

• Some infantile actions survive into adulthood.某些婴儿期的行为一直保持到成年期。
• Few people nowadays are able to maintain friendships into adulthood.如今很少有人能将友谊维持到成年。

6 excavated   

v.挖掘( excavate的过去式和过去分词 )；开凿；挖出；发掘

参考例句：

• The site has been excavated by archaeologists. 这个遗址已被考古学家发掘出来。
• The archaeologists excavated an ancient fortress. 考古学家们发掘出一个古堡。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 neolithic   

adj.新石器时代的

参考例句：

• Cattle were first domesticated in Neolithic times.新石器时代有人开始驯养牛。
• The monument was Stone Age or Neolithic.该纪念碑是属于石器时代或新石器时代的。