新奇事件簿 早期人类不擅绘画

An early species of humans who lived between 120,000 and 35,000 years ago were not as good at drawing as early modern humans. The species is called Neanderthal man. They became extinct tens of thousands of years ago. They had large brains and made complex tools to hunt, but they never showed the ability to draw recognizable images. This is unlike early modern humans who drew animals and other figures on rocks and cave walls. Professor Richard Coss, an expert on pre-historic drawings, studied ancient photos and video film of early art. He studied charcoal¹ drawings and engravings of animals made by human artists from 28,000 to 32,000 years ago in southern France.

生活在12,000到35,000年前间的一支早期人类并不像早期现代人那样擅长绘画。该支早期人类被称为尼安德特人。他们早在上万年前就灭绝了。他们的脑袋很大且能够制作复杂的捕猎工具，但是他们却没有绘制可识别图像的技能。这一点就和早期现代人类不同，早期现代人类能够在岩石和洞穴墙壁上绘画动物和其他画像。理查德·科斯（Richard Coss）教授是一名史前图画专家，从事古代照片以及早期艺术电视影片的研究。他对28,000到32,000年间法国南部人类艺术家的素描和动物雕刻作品进行研究。

A professor said the difference in artistic² skills could be because of the way they hunted. Neanderthal man hunted tamer animals that were easier to kill. However, early modern humans hunted more dangerous animals. This needed better hand-eye coordination³. Professor Coss said: "Neanderthals could mentally visualize⁴ previously⁵ seen animals from working memory, but they were unable to translate those mental images effectively into the coordinated⁶ hand-movement patterns required for drawing." Professor Coss said early modern humans used drawings to plan hunts and to focus on and discuss which parts of an animal's body to target.

一位教授表示艺术手法的差异可能是由于他们狩猎的方式所致。尼安德特人会追捕更为温顺的动物，因为它们更容易猎杀。而早期现代人类则捕获更加危险的动物。这就需要更好的手眼协调能力。科斯教授说道：“尼安德特人能够从工作记忆中将先前看到过的动物形象化，但是他们无法将这些意象有效地转化成绘画所需的协调性手动模式。”科斯教授表示早期现代人类利用绘画对狩猎进行规划并对专注于动物身体的哪个部分为目标而进行讨论。

1 charcoal   

n.炭，木炭，生物炭

参考例句：

• We need to get some more charcoal for the barbecue.我们烧烤需要更多的碳。
• Charcoal is used to filter water.木炭是用来过滤水的。

2 artistic   

adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的

参考例句：

• The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
• These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。

3 coordination   

n.协调，协作

参考例句：

• Gymnastics is a sport that requires a considerable level of coordination.体操是一项需要高协调性的运动。
• The perfect coordination of the dancers and singers added a rhythmic charm to the performance.舞蹈演员和歌手们配合得很好，使演出更具魅力。

4 visualize   

vt.使看得见，使具体化，想象，设想

参考例句：

• I remember meeting the man before but I can't visualize him.我记得以前见过那个人，但他的样子我想不起来了。
• She couldn't visualize flying through space.她无法想像在太空中飞行的景象。

5 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

6 coordinated   

adj.协调的

参考例句：

• The sound has to be coordinated with the picture. 声音必须和画面协调一致。
• The numerous existing statutes are complicated and poorly coordinated. 目前繁多的法令既十分复杂又缺乏快调。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法