巴西发现九千年前的人类斩首实例

巴西发现九千年前的人类斩首实例

A 9,000 year-old case of human decapitation has been found in the rock shelter of Lapa do Santo in Brazil, according to a study published September 23, 2015 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by André Strauss from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary1 Anthropology2, Germany and colleagues. An archaeological site called Lapa do Santo, located in east-central Brazil, contains evidence of human occupation dating back to ~12,000 years ago. In 2007, researchers found fragments of a buried body, Burial 26, including a cranium, jaw3, the first six cervical vertebrae, and two severed4 hands at the site. They dated the remains5 back to ~9,000 years ago using accelerator mass spectrometry. The researchers found amputated hands laid over the face of the skull6 arranged opposite each other and observed v-shaped cut marks on the jaw and sixth cervical vertebra.

Based on strontium analysis comparing Burial 26's isotopic7 signature to other specimens8 from Lapa do Santo, the researchers suggest Burial 26 was likely a local member of the group. Additionally, the presentation of the remains, lead the authors to think that this was likely a ritualized decapitation instead of trophy-taking. If this is the case, these remains may demonstrate sophisticated mortuary rituals among hunter-gatherers in the Americas during this time period. The authors think this may be the oldest case of decapitation found in the New Word, leading to a re-evaluation of the previous interpretations9 of this practice, particularly with regards to its origins and geographic10 dispersion.

1 evolutionary

adj.进化的；演化的，演变的；[生]进化论的

参考例句：

Life has its own evolutionary process.生命有其自身的进化过程。

These are fascinating questions to be resolved by the evolutionary studies of plants.这些十分吸引人的问题将在研究植物进化过程中得以解决。

2 anthropology

n.人类学

参考例句：

I believe he has started reading up anthropology.我相信他已开始深入研究人类学。

Social anthropology is centrally concerned with the diversity of culture.社会人类学主要关于文化多样性。

3 jaw

n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训

参考例句：

He delivered a right hook to his opponent's jaw.他给了对方下巴一记右钩拳。

A strong square jaw is a sign of firm character.强健的方下巴是刚毅性格的标志。

4 severed

v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂

参考例句：

The doctor said I'd severed a vessel in my leg. 医生说我割断了腿上的一根血管。 来自《简明英汉词典》

We have severed diplomatic relations with that country. 我们与那个国家断绝了外交关系。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 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。

6 skull

n.头骨；颅骨

参考例句：

The skull bones fuse between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five.头骨在15至25岁之间长合。

He fell out of the window and cracked his skull.他从窗子摔了出去，跌裂了颅骨。

7 isotopic

adj.同位素的，合痕的

参考例句：

The isotopic signatures of most ancient limestones indicated the same process. 大多数古代石灰岩的同位素特征说明了同样的过程。 来自辞典例句

Isotopic discrimination is not likely. 同位素甄别是不可能的。 来自辞典例句

8 specimens

n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人

参考例句：

Astronauts have brought back specimens of rock from the moon. 宇航员从月球带回了岩石标本。

The traveler brought back some specimens of the rocks from the mountains. 那位旅行者从山上带回了一些岩石标本。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 interpretations

n.解释( interpretation的名词复数 )；表演；演绎；理解

参考例句：

This passage is open to a variety of interpretations. 这篇文章可以有各种不同的解释。 来自《简明英汉词典》

The involved and abstruse passage makes several interpretations possible. 这段艰涩的文字可以作出好几种解释。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

10 geographic

adj.地理学的，地理的

参考例句：

The city's success owes much to its geographic position. 这座城市的成功很大程度上归功于它的地理位置。 来自《简明英汉词典》

Environmental problems pay no heed to these geographic lines. 环境问题并不理会这些地理界限。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法