VOA慢速英语2018--科学家称早期人类并不是想象中的那么简单

Scientists: Early Humans Were Not as Simple as One Would Think

Scientists have discovered evidence that some of the earliest members of the human race, Homo sapiens, were surprisingly advanced.

Scientists say these early humans knew how to use color pigments² found in nature, create advanced tools and trade for supplies with other groups of people.

A report on the discovery was published recently in the journal Science.

The scientists said they examined artifacts recovered from southern Kenya. Some of the objects are said to date back to 320,000 years ago. They are about the same age as the earliest-known Homo sapiens fossils found in other parts of Africa.

In the report, the researchers described an ochre pigment¹ that produced a bright-red color. They say this pigment could have been used for body painting. They also found tools made from obsidian³, a volcanic⁴ rock that can have an extremely sharp edge.

The researchers found evidence of obsidian being transported to the Olorgesailie Basin, up to 88 kilometers away from where the rock was found. This discovery led the scientists to believe it had come from another group through trade. But they did not know what was provided in exchange for the obsidian.

The researchers said the findings show developments in technology and social structures unexpected so early in human history.

Rick Potts is a paleoanthropologist and director of the Human Origins Program at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C. He believes that these newly identified mental and social abilities — including recognition of “distant groups, use of pigments and technologies including projectile⁵ points — were at the foundation of our species’ origin.”

Alison Brooks⁶, another paleoanthropologist, is with the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Speaking of the pigment, she said, “The choice of importing the ochre from a distance rather than using a more common local material…argues that having a red face or hair or clothing or weapons also carried a symbolic⁷ message of some sort.”

The researchers described the obsidian tools they found as smaller, of better quality, and more specialized⁸ than larger stone tools used by earlier human species.

The obsidian was used in a number of tools with sharp or pointy edges. The rock was also found in small, sharp points that could be placed at the end of a piece of wood or bone for use as a weapon.

I’m Jonathan Evans.

Words in this Story

advanced – adj. being far along in progress or development

artifact – n. a simple object such as a tool or weapon that was made by people in the past

journal – n. a publication dealing⁹ mainly with issues of current interest

pigment – n. a natural substance that gives coloring to animals and plants; a substance that gives color to something else

fossil – n. remains¹⁰ of an ancient organism that has been protected in Earth’s surface

paleoanthropologist – n. the study of anthropology¹¹ that deals with fossils

projectile – n. something that is thrown as a weapon

symbolic – adj. expressing or representing an idea or quality without using words

1 pigment   

n.天然色素，干粉颜料

参考例句：

• The Romans used natural pigments on their fabrics and walls.古罗马人在织物和墙壁上使用天然颜料。
• Who thought he might know what the skin pigment phenomenon meant.他自认为可能知道皮肤色素出现这种现象到底是怎么回事。

2 pigments   

n.（粉状）颜料( pigment的名词复数 )；天然色素

参考例句：

• The Romans used natural pigments on their fabrics and walls. 古罗马人在织物和墙壁上使用天然颜料。 来自辞典例句
• The original white lead pigments have oxidized and turned black. 最初的白色铅质颜料氧化后变成了黑色。 来自辞典例句

3 obsidian   

n.黑曜石

参考例句：

• Obsidian is sacred to the Maoris.黑曜石是毛利人的神圣之物。
• Once you have enough obsidian,activate the idols.一旦你有足够的黑曜石，激活神像。

4 volcanic   

adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的

参考例句：

• There have been several volcanic eruptions this year.今年火山爆发了好几次。
• Volcanic activity has created thermal springs and boiling mud pools.火山活动产生了温泉和沸腾的泥浆池。

5 projectile   

n.投射物，发射体；adj.向前开进的；推进的；抛掷的

参考例句：

• The vertical and horizontal motions of a projectile can be treated independently.抛射体的竖直方向和水平方向的运动能够分开来处理。
• Have you altered the plans of the projectile as the telegram suggests?你已经按照电报的要求修改炮弹图样了吗?

6 brooks   

n.小溪( brook的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Brooks gave the business when Haas caught him with his watch. 哈斯抓到偷他的手表的布鲁克斯时，狠狠地揍了他一顿。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Ade and Brooks exchanged blows yesterday and they were severely punished today. 艾德和布鲁克斯昨天打起来了，今天他们受到严厉的惩罚。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

8 specialized   

adj.专门的，专业化的

参考例句：

• There are many specialized agencies in the United Nations.联合国有许多专门机构。
• These tools are very specialized.这些是专用工具。

9 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

10 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。

11 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。