VOA慢速英语--肯尼亚发现7.8万年前的儿童墓葬

It is a place of sadness: a child perhaps 2-1/2 or 3 years old buried under the overhang of a cave, the upper part of the body once carefully wrapped in a cloth.

Scientists said last week they have found the oldest-known human burial in Africa, the continent that gave rise to our species¹. The area dates to about 78,000 years ago at a cave called Panga ya Saidi near the Kenyan coast. Scientists called the child 'Mtoto,' which means 'child' in Swahili.

The discovery explains some of the development of early social behaviors in human species, known as Homo sapiens, researchers say.

María Martinón-Torres is the director of the National Research Center on Human Evolution (CENIEH) in Spain. She is also the lead author of the study published in the publication Nature.

Martinón-Torres said the child was buried near where he lived. She added, "Only humans treat the dead with the same respect, consideration and even tenderness they treat the living. Even when we die, we continue to be someone for our group."

Human species first appeared in Africa more than 300,000 years ago, later spreading worldwide.

The remains² of the bones were found in a round hole. They were secured in plaster³ and later taken to the research center for study.

The researchers believe that the child was placed in the grave with his knees upward, lying on his side. It is not yet known if the child is a male or female.

The body was fresh when it was buried, then quickly covered with dirt from the floor of the cave.

"This would likely have been a group act, perhaps by members of the child's family. All of these behaviors are, of course, very similar to those observed in our own species today, so we can relate to this act even though the burial dates to 78,000 years ago," said study co-author Nicole Boivin. She is an archaeologist and director at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Germany.

The researchers wondered about the special meaning of a child's burial.

It is unclear when funereal⁴ behavior began, but both Homo sapiens and its closely related species, Neanderthal, practiced it. Martinón-Torres called it "a type of behavior that allow us to maintain links with those who died and offer a farewell."

The oldest Neanderthal burial area, in Israel, dates to about 120,000 years ago, similar in age to the oldest-known Homo sapiens burials, also in Israel, Boivin said.

The researchers said it is unclear whether funereal behavior began outside Africa and was later practiced in Africa or began in Africa. There is not enough archeological evidence to know.

Mtoto was part of a hunter-gatherer culture. Animal remains were also found in the area, set in a forest. Stone tools were also found, including pointed⁵ stones for weapons.

"So, we have a picture of what life was like at the time of Mtoto's life and death," Boivin said.

Words in This Story

cave – n. large hole that was formed by natural processes in the side of a cliff or hill or under the ground

species – n. group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants

tender – adj. very loving and gentle

plaster – n. a wet substance that hardens when it becomes dry and that is used to make smooth walls and ceilings

archaeologist – n. a science that deals with past human life and activities by studying the bones, tools, etc., of ancient people

funereal -adj. very sad and serious : suggesting a funeral

farewell – n. goodbye

1 species   

n.物种，种群

参考例句：

• Are we the only thinking species in the whole of creation?我们是万物中惟一有思想的物种吗？
• This species of bird now exists only in Africa.这种鸟现在只存在于非洲。

2 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。

3 plaster   

n.石膏，灰泥，膏药；v.涂以灰泥，敷以膏药，使...平

参考例句：

• He mixed up some plaster to repair the wall.他和了一些灰泥去补墙。
• She applied the plaster on his shoulder.她将膏药贴在他的膀子上。

4 funereal   

adj.悲哀的；送葬的

参考例句：

• He addressed the group in funereal tones.他语气沉痛地对大家讲话。
• The mood of the music was almost funereal.音乐的调子几乎像哀乐。

5 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。