1 . 2023 was a good year for archaeological discoveries. Here are some of the most interesting new finds.
A moai
In February, volunteers unearthed a stone head called a moai on Easter Island. The statue is small for a moai — a little over five feet tall, while others of the roughly 900 statues on the island are up to 33 feet tall.
Most of the moai were created between 1250 and 1500, and local people regard them as the living faces of their ancestors. But nothing is known about this new moai, including which ancestor it represents.
Two mummy workshops
Archaeologists announced in May that they discovered two more workshops near the ruins of the ancient Egyptian city of Memphis. One of the workshops features stone beds meant for the preservation of human bodies, while the other one has smaller beds that were used to mummify animals.
A Maya city
In June, Mexican archaeologists discovered a lost city called Ocomtun. They thought it was a major center from about AD 250 until it was abandoned when the Maya civilization collapsed between 900 and 1000, possibly from drought and civil wars.
Ocomtun covers more than 120 acres and features well-preserved homes, raised platforms and pyramid temples. The remains of the largest pyramid are more than 80 feet high.
Roman jewelry
In June, dozens of precious stones were discovered by archaeologists in the ruins of an ancient pipe system that carried water away from public baths in the third and fourth centuries. It’s thought they were worn by wealthy bathers. Some of these precious stones are carved with images of Roman gods, such as Apollo, Venus, and Mars, while others show animals, such as rabbits and birds.
The public baths were found at Carlisle in England. The city was a regional center in Roman Britain, when it was known as Luguvalium.
1. What is the height of the newly found stone statue?| A．About 5 feet. | B．About 33 feet. | C．About 80 feet. | D．About 900 feet. |
| A．In Chile. | B．In England. | C．In Egypt. | D．In Mexico. |
| A．They are located in North America. | B．They were discovered by volunteers. |
| C．They were related to religious celebrations. | D．They can reveal ancient urban development. |
2 . A 2,000-year-old fast-food stall (摊位) unearthed from the ashes of Pompeii has given researchers new clues about the snacking habits of the ancient Romans. The snack bar counter, decorated with multicolored patterns and frozen by volcanic ash, was partially unearthed last year but archaeologists extended work on the site to reveal it in its full glory.
Pompeii was buried in a sea of boiling lava when the volcano on nearby Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, killing between 2,000 and 15,000 people. Archaeologists continued to make discoveries there.
The team found duck bone pieces as well as the remains of pigs, goats, fish and snails in earthenware pots. Some of the ingredients had been cooked together like a Roman-era paella(什锦饭). Crushed fava beans(碎蚕豆), used to improve the taste of wine, were found at the bottom of one jar.
“The counter appears to have been closed in a hurry and abandoned by its owners, perhaps as the first noises of the eruption were felt,” said Massimo Osanna, director general at the Archaeological Park of Pompeii.
“A water tower and a fountain were found alongside human remains, including those of a man believed to have been aged about 50 and discovered near a child’s bed. The remains of another person were also found and could be those of an opportunist thief or someone fleeing the eruption who was surprised by the burning steam just as he opened the pot,” Osanna said.
In the latest stage of their work, archaeologists uncovered a number of still-life scenes, including details about animals believed to have been on the menu, notably wild ducks and a chicken, for serving up with wine or hot drinks.
“As well as bearing witness to daily life in Pompeii, the possibilities to analyze that afforded by this stall are predictable because for the first time we have uncovered a site in its entirety,” Osanna said.
1. What was found to be used by ancient Romans to make the wine tastier?| A．Steamed pork. |
| B．Duck bone pieces. |
| C．A Roman-era paella. |
| D．Crushed fava beans. |
| A．It was burnt by a little kid. |
| B．It was ruined by a flood. |
| C．It was shut down hurriedly. |
| D．It was broken into by animals. |
| A．The significance of discovering the stall. |
| B．The regret for the loss of the ancient city. |
| C．The barrier to bringing the site back to life. |
| D．The potential of recovering the hidden stall. |
| A．A Lost City Finds Its Way With the Help of a Stall |
| B．An Old Fast-food Stall Was Reopened to Customers |
| C．A Snack Bar Counter Was Destroyed by Volcanic Ash |
| D．An Unearthed Stall Throws Light on Roman Snacking Habits |
3 . While most people don’t think much about garbage, trash (垃圾) is beloved by archaeologist (考古学家). A favorite site for study is a midden (贝丘), an old trash or garbage heap (堆). A midden might contain damaged stone or metal items, which tell us about the weapons and tools people used. Softer materials such as wood, cloth, leather, and baskets are sometimes preserved. They may tell us what people wore, how they carried things, or the kind of toys used by children. Historic household trash heaps often contain broken pottery pieces and even traces of the food they once held.
Most people no longer keep a trash heap by the kitchen door. Instead, garbage is hauled off to landfills (垃圾填埋池). These landfills can still attract archaeologists. The Garbage Project collected information from landfills from 1987 to 1995. Student archaeologists measured tons of garbage from 15 landfills across the United States and Canada. This garbology, the study of garbage, research led to a better understanding of how people have changed what they consume during this period of time. The findings also led to a better awareness of how quickly various items rot. This helped with city planning for garbage disposal and recycling efforts.
Some found objects that may clearly be of archaeological interest, such as arrowheads and spear points. It is typically against the law to collect these on public lands, so they should be left in place. If you take a photo and note the location, you can notify the state archaeologist or the government branch that is in charge of the land, such as the National Park Service or the Bureau of Land Management.
Everyone is responsible for protecting archaeological resources, which is a concept known as “archaeological stewardship.” Sometimes this even means protecting old garbage.
1. Why is old trash important according to archaeologists?| A．It can teach us about the past. |
| B．It might help us locate metal mines. |
| C．It can contribute to modern material industry. |
| D．It might encourage us to protect our environment. |
| A．They conducted a study on modern trash. |
| B．They recycled waste from some landfills. |
| C．They offered some creative city planning ideas. |
| D．They compared ancient trash heaps with modern landfills. |
| A．Donate it to public collections. |
| B．Take it to proper authorities. |
| C．Leave it in a safe place. |
| D．Mark the place of it. |
| A．Past or Future? | B．Trash or Treasure? |
| C．Protection of Damage? | D．Problem or Resource? |
4 . On Tuesday, scientists announced that they have discovered the bones of four settlers in Jamestown, Virginia. Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in what become the United States. The bones were unearthed under the floor of a Jamestown church which was discovered in 2010 and is considered as America’s first Protestant church.
The Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation at Historic Jamestowne and the Smithsonian’s Museum of Natural History announced that the settlers held high leadership positions. The men, Rev.Robert Hunt,Capt. Gabriel Archer,Sir Ferdinando Wainman,and Capt. William West, all played a role in the Jamestown settlement. After being lost to history for more than 400 years, the discovery of their remains provides new clues about their life and the importance of religion in the 1600s.
“This is a very important discovery,” Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation President James Horn said in a statement. “These men were among the first founders of English America."
About 100 people settled along the James River in what would become the first English settlement m 1607. During that time, settlers in Jamestown were faced with famine and disease. The colony was nearly wiped out due to conflict with Native Americans in the area and with other English settlers.
“They lived and died at a hard time in the history of the settlement , when Jamestown almost ended in failure,” Horn said. “The bones of these men help fill in the stories of their lives ”
The Smithsonian and the Rediscovery Foundation found the remains in November of 2013. Scientists used 3-D technology to locate the exact gravesites of the men. The team wanted to identify its findings before announcing the discovery. They identified the men using historical records and studied the chemicals of the bones to learn what the men ate and where they came from.
Findings from the burials will go on display within weeks at Historic Jamestowne. The site also plans to honor the men and will keep their bones in a safe place for future study.
1. The bones found in a Jamestown church_____________.| A．were first discovered in 2010 |
| B．have been buried for over four centuries |
| C．have proved to be a family of four |
| D．are complete and easy to recognize |
| A．supported fully | B．developed rapidly |
| C．destroyed completely | D．protected successfully |
| A．How scientists keep the bones in good shape. |
| B．Why the four leaders were buried in Jamestown. |
| C．Why the four leaders chose to settle in Jamestown. |
| D．How scientists identified the four leaders. |
| A．a history paper | B．a research paper |
| C．a newspaper report | D．a warning message |
