-
(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
4,000-year-old Building Discovered in Greece
Greek officials recently announced the discovery of a 4,000-year-old-stone building on the island of Crete. The historical find could block progress on a big airport project.
Greece’s Culture Ministry1 said recently that the structure is unlike any other from Crete’s ancient Minoan civilization. The Culture Ministry described the find as “extremely interesting.”
Crete’s Minoan civilization is famous for its complex palaces, colorful art, and mysterious writing system.
The whole structure is about 1,800-square-meters in area. When seen from above, the structure looks like a big automobile2 wheel.
Archaeologists found it during a recent dig.
The structure is in an area chosen as the site for a new radar3 station. The radar station is to serve a new airport being built near the town of Kastelli. The new airport is designed to serve up to 18 million travelers each year. Officials say it will open in 2027.
Archaeologists continue to dig at the site and are studying the remains4. They do not yet know what the hilltop structure was for.
Experts say it could have a traditional or religious purpose.
Surrounded by eight stone walls as tall as 1.7 meters high, the inner5 structure is divided into smaller, connected spaces.
The ministry’s statement said the structure did not appear to have been a place where people lived.
The finds from inside it include a large quantity of animal bones.
The statement also said the size, design, and building quality required labor6, specialized7 knowledge, and a strong central administration8. The structure was likely a communal9 building that stood out in the entire area, officials said.
Culture Minister Lina Mendoni promised that the find would be preserved while a different site would be found for the radar station.
“We all understand the value and importance of cultural heritage10," she said.
“It’s possible to go ahead with the airport,” she said, and protect the ancient objects as well.
The ministry said the building was probably made around the time Crete’s first palaces were being built — including at Knossos and Phaistos.
Greece’s rich cultural history often results in conflicts of interest during building projects.
At the end of the last century, remains of an ancient hilltop settlement were dug up and then destroyed during building work for Athens International Airport.
So far, at least another 35 archaeological sites have been uncovered11 during work on the new Kastelli airport and its road connections, the ministry said.
Words in This Story
archaeologist – n. a scientist that deals with past human life and activities
preserve – v. to keep (something) in good condition
heritage – n. the traditions or beliefs that are part of the history of a group or country
![收听单词发音](/images/play.gif)
1
ministry
![]() |
|
n.(政府的)部;牧师 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
2
automobile
![]() |
|
n.汽车,机动车 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
3
radar
![]() |
|
n.雷达,无线电探测器 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
4
remains
![]() |
|
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
5
inner
![]() |
|
adj.内部的,里面的;内在的,内心的;精神的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
6
labor
![]() |
|
n.劳动,努力,工作,劳工;分娩;vi.劳动,努力,苦干;vt.详细分析;麻烦 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
7
specialized
![]() |
|
adj.专门的,专业化的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
8
administration
![]() |
|
n.经营,管理;行政,行政机关,管理部门 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
9
communal
![]() |
|
adj.公有的,公共的,公社的,公社制的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
10
heritage
![]() |
|
n.传统,遗产,继承物 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
11
uncovered
![]() |
|
adj.无盖的,未保险的v.揭开…的盖子( uncover的过去式和过去分词 );揭露,发现 | |
参考例句: |
|
|