VOA慢速英语2020 科学家利用3D技术解密动物木乃伊（在线收听）

Scientists Study Animal Mummies with 3D Technology

Scientists recently used 3-D imaging technology to look inside the mummies of a cat, bird, and snake. The research is helping experts learn more about how ancient Egyptians treated animals.

最近，科学家们利用3D成像技术对猫、鸟和蛇的木乃伊进行了研究。这项研究有助于专家了解古埃及人是如何对待动物的。

Researchers said last week that they used a special technique, X-ray micro CT scanning, to look inside the mummies. The scanning process permits the scientists to study the mummies while keeping them whole. The CT scans were much more detailed than medical CT scans.

研究人员上周表示，他们使用了一种特殊的技术——X射线微型CT扫描，来查看木乃伊的内部。这种技术可以让科学家研究木乃伊的同时保持木乃伊的完整。这类CT扫描比医学CT扫描更详细。

The researchers published their findings in the journal Scientific Reports.

研究人员在《科学报告》杂志上发表了他们的研究结果。

Ancient Egyptians mummified not only humans but also many animals including cats, dogs, birds, snakes and crocodiles.

古埃及人不仅将人类制成木乃伊，还有猫、狗、鸟、蛇以及鳄鱼等动物制成木乃伊。

Carolyn Graves-Brown, a writer of the study, leads the Egypt Centre at Swansea University in Britain.

该研究的作者卡罗琳·格雷夫斯-布朗（Carolyn Graves-Brown）领导英国斯旺西大学的埃及中心。

She noted that the three mummies were likely made as "votive offerings," or gifts, to the gods that Egyptians believed in. The dead animals were thought to serve as a link between Egyptian gods and living people.

她指出，这三具木乃伊很可能是为埃及人信仰的神而制作的“祭品”或礼物。死去的动物被认为是连接埃及神和生者的纽带。

The mummies had long been in Swansea's collection. Experts are not sure of their exact age.

这些木乃伊长期被斯旺西收藏。专家们无法确定它们的确切年龄。

The researchers found evidence that the snake, a young Egyptian Cobra, had been denied water while alive.

研究人员发现有证据表明，这条蛇是一条幼年埃及眼镜蛇，死之前不让喝水。

It was likely killed by a severe break of its backbone.

它可能是死于脊椎骨的严重断裂。

The researchers found the snake's mouth open. It also contained a substance called natron. These findings suggest the snake had been part of an "opening of the mouth" ceremony, said Swansea engineering professor Richard Johnston. Johnston was the lead writer of the report.

研究人员发现蛇的嘴巴是张开的。嘴巴里还含有一种叫做泡碱的物质。斯旺西大学工程学教授理查德·约翰斯顿说，这些发现表明，这条蛇是“张嘴”仪式的一部分。约翰斯顿是该报告的主要作者。

Ancient Egyptians believed that the ceremony would permit the mummified subjects to regain their senses in the afterlife.

古埃及人相信这个仪式可以让木乃伊在死后恢复知觉。

Graves-Brown noted that the finding supports earlier evidence that the act was carried out with animals. The scientist added, "We know it was carried out on humans."

格雷夫斯-布朗指出，这一发现支持了早先的证据，即动物会被制成木乃伊。这位科学家补充说，“我们知道的是会将人类制成木乃伊。”

The cat was probably around 5 months old when it died. Its neck was broken at the time of death or during the mummification process.

木乃伊猫死的时候大概有5个月大。它的颈部在死亡时或在制作木乃伊过程中被折断。

The bird appears to be a Eurasian kestrel, of the falcon family.

木乃伊鸟看起来是一种欧亚隼，属于猎鹰家族。

Ancient Egyptians linked snakes to many of their gods. Cats were often linked with the fertility goddess Bastet. Some birds were linked with sky gods such as Re and Horus.

古埃及人将蛇与他们的许多神联系在一起。猫通常与生育女神巴斯特联系在一起。有些鸟与天神有关，如太阳神和荷鲁斯。

"Like us, the ancient Egyptians used and abused animals," Graves-Brown said. "There is evidence from the mummified remains of maltreatment."

“和我们一样，古埃及人也会利用和虐待动物，”格雷夫斯-布朗说道。“这就是被虐待的木乃伊遗骸的证据。”

I'm John Russell.

木乃伊鸟看起来是一种欧亚隼，属于猎鹰家族。

古埃及人将蛇与他们的许多神联系在一起。猫通常与生育女神巴斯特联系在一起。有些鸟与天神有关，如太阳神和荷鲁斯。

“和我们一样，古埃及人也会利用和虐待动物，”格雷夫斯-布朗说道。“这就是被虐待的木乃伊遗骸的证据。”

约翰·罗塞尔为您播报。