VOA慢速英语2021 考古学家在秘鲁发现至少有800年历史的木乃伊

Researchers have found a preserved body thought to be 800 years old in the South American country of Peru.

研究人员在南美洲的秘鲁发现了一具被认为有800年历史的保存完好的尸体。

The body was mummified.

这具尸体被制成了木乃伊。

Mummification is a method used by ancient cultures to preserve the bodies of dead people.

木乃伊化在古代文明时期是用来保存死者尸体的一种方法。

One archaeologist involved said the body is from the Lima area of the country.

其中一位考古学家说，这具尸体来自秘鲁的利马。

The discovery was announced last week.

上周公布了这一发现。

Pieter van Dalen Luna of the State University of San Marcos described the mummy.

圣马科斯州立大学的彼得·范·达伦·卢纳描述了这具木乃伊。

"The whole body was tied up by ropes and with the hands covering the face," he said.

他说：“整具尸体都被绳子捆住，双手蒙住脸部。”

He added that the process fits with other burials in the area.

他还说，这与该地区的其他埋葬方式一致。

Van Dalen Luna said the person lived high in the Andes Mountains.

范·达伦·卢纳说，这个人生前住在安第斯山脉的高处。

It is not known if the body was that of a man or a woman.

目前还不清楚这具尸体的性别是男还是女。

The next step is to use a process called radiocarbon dating to find a more exact date of when the person lived.

下一步是使用放射性碳定年法来更准确地确定这个人生活的时期。

The process measures the presence¹ of a radioactive² form of carbon which lets scientists estimate³ the age of something that was once alive.

通过测量放射性碳，科学家们可以估计出曾经活着的东西的年龄。

Van Dalen Luna said the mummy was found outside of Lima in a burial place.

范·达伦·卢纳说，这具木乃伊是在利马郊外的一个埋葬地发现的。

The burial contained objects including stone tools, vegetables and pottery⁴.

埋葬的物品包括石器、蔬菜和陶器。

Peru is the home of the ancient city of Machu Picchu.

马丘比丘古城位于秘鲁。

It has hundreds of archaeological places where researchers are learning⁵ more about the Incan Empire which ruled the area over 500 years ago.

它有数百处考古遗址，研究人员会在那里了解更多关于500多年前统治该地区的印加帝国的情况。

1 presence   

n.出席；到场；存在

参考例句：

• Her presence lent an air of respectability to the occasion.她的到场使那种场合增添了崇高的气氛。
• His presence is indicative of his willingness to help.他的出席表示他愿意帮忙。

2 radioactive   

adj.放射性的

参考例句：

• People should keep away from the radioactive waste.人们应远离放射性废物。
• The radioactive material is stored in a special radiation-proof container.放射性材料储存在防辐射的特殊容器里。

3 estimate   

n.估计，估量；评价，看法；vt.估计，估量

参考例句：

• We estimate the cost to be five thousand dollars.我们估计费用为5000美元。
• The lowest estimate would put the worth of the jewel at ＄200.按最低的评估这块宝石也值200美元。

4 pottery   

n.陶器，陶器场

参考例句：

• My sister likes to learn art pottery in her spare time.我妹妹喜欢在空余时间学习陶艺。
• The pottery was left to bake in the hot sun.陶器放在外面让炎热的太阳烘晒焙干。

5 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。