VOA慢速英语2021--以色列发现古代酿酒厂遗址

Israeli Archaeologists Discover Ancient Winemaking Factory

Israeli scientists say they have found a huge winemaking factory that is about 1,500 years old.

The archaeologists discovered the factory in the central town of Yavne. It includes five wine presses, storage areas, kilns² for making clay containers and tens of thousands of wine jugs⁴ and pieces of clay, they say.

Israel's Antiquities⁵ Authority said the discovery shows that Yavne was a great wine-making area during the Byzantine period. Researchers estimate the factory could have produced some 2 million liters of wine a year.

Antiquities officials said the factory was uncovered over the past two years.

Jon Seligman was one of the leaders of the dig, or excavation⁶. He said the wine made in the area was known as "Gaza" wine. The product was exported to many places.

"This was a prestige wine, a light, white wine, and it was taken to many, many countries around the Mediterranean," Seligman said.

The jugs made at the factory were known as Gaza jars. The containers have been found in other countries, including Egypt, Turkey and Greece.

Seligman said wine was not just used for enjoyment⁷ in ancient times.

He said, "...This was a major source of nutrition and this was a safe drink because the water was often contaminated, so they could drink wine safely."

Words in This Story

wine – n. an alcoholic⁸ drink made from the juice of grapes

kiln¹ – n. n oven or furnace that is used for hardening, burning, or drying something

jug³ – n. a large, deep container with a narrow opening and a handle

excavate⁹ – v. to uncover (something) by digging away and removing the earth that covers it

contaminate – v. to make (something) dangerous, dirty, or impure by adding something harmful or undesirable to it

1 kiln   

n.（砖、石灰等）窑，炉；v.烧窑

参考例句：

• That morning we fired our first kiln of charcoal.那天上午，我们烧了我们的第一窑木炭。
• Bricks are baked in a kiln.砖是在窑里烧成的。

2 kilns   

n.窑( kiln的名词复数 )；烧窑工人

参考例句：

• Bricks and earthware articles are baked in kilns. 砖和陶器都是在窑中烧成的。 来自辞典例句
• The bricks are baking in the kilns. ？里正在烧砖。 来自辞典例句

3 jug   

n.(有柄，小口，可盛水等的)大壶，罐，盂

参考例句：

• He walked along with a jug poised on his head.他头上顶着一个水罐，保持着平衡往前走。
• She filled the jug with fresh water.她将水壶注满了清水。

4 jugs   

（有柄及小口的）水壶( jug的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Two china jugs held steaming gravy. 两个瓷罐子装着热气腾腾的肉卤。
• Jugs-Big wall lingo for Jumars or any other type of ascenders. 大岩壁术语，祝玛式上升器或其它种类的上升器。

5 antiquities   

n.古老( antiquity的名词复数 )；古迹；古人们；古代的风俗习惯

参考例句：

• There is rest and healing in the contemplation of antiquities. 欣赏古物有休息和疗养之功。 来自辞典例句
• Bertha developed a fine enthusiasm for the antiquities of London. 伯沙对伦敦的古迹产生了很大的热情。 来自辞典例句

6 excavation   

n.挖掘，发掘；被挖掘之地

参考例句：

• The bad weather has hung up the work of excavation.天气不好耽误了挖掘工作。
• The excavation exposed some ancient ruins.这次挖掘暴露出一些古遗迹。

7 enjoyment   

n.乐趣；享有；享用

参考例句：

• Your company adds to the enjoyment of our visit. 有您的陪同，我们这次访问更加愉快了。
• After each joke the old man cackled his enjoyment.每逢讲完一个笑话，这老人就呵呵笑着表示他的高兴。

8 alcoholic   

adj.（含）酒精的，由酒精引起的；n.酗酒者

参考例句：

• The alcoholic strength of brandy far exceeds that of wine.白兰地的酒精浓度远远超过葡萄酒。
• Alcoholic drinks act as a poison to a child.酒精饮料对小孩犹如毒药。

9 excavate   

vt.挖掘，挖出

参考例句：

• They plan to excavate a large hole.他们计划挖个大洞。
• A new Danish expedition is again excavating the site in annual summer digs.一支新的丹麦探险队又在那个遗址上进行一年一度的夏季挖掘。