玛雅人曾修建大型水坝

时间：2012-07-18 05:39:18

（单词翻译:单击）

Recent excavations¹, sediment² coring and mapping by a multi-university team led by the University of Cincinnati at the pre-Columbian city of Tikal, a paramount³（最重要的） urban center of the ancient Maya, have identified new landscaping and engineering feats⁴, including the largest ancient dam built by the Maya of Central America. That dam -- constructed from cut stone, rubble⁵ and earth -- stretched more than 260 feet in length, stood about 33 feet high and held about 20 million gallons of water in a human-made reservoir.

These findings on ancient Maya water and land-use systems at Tikal, located in northern Guatemala, are scheduled to appear this week in the Proceedings⁶ of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) in an article titled "Water and Sustainable Land Use at the Ancient Tropical City of Tikal, Guatemala." The research sheds new light on how the Maya conserved⁷ and used their natural resources to support a populous⁸, highly complex society for over 1,500 years despite environmental challenges, including periodic drought.

The paper is authored by Vernon Scarborough, UC professor of anthropology⁹; Nicholas Dunning, UC professor of geography; archaeologist Kenneth Tankersley, UC assistant professor of anthropology; Christopher Carr, UC doctoral student in geography; Eric Weaver¹⁰, UC doctoral student in geography; Liwy Grazioso of the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala; Brian Lane, former UC master's student in anthropology now pursuing doctoral studies at the University of Hawaii; John Jones, associate professor of anthropology, Washington State University; Palma Buttles, technical staff senior member, SEI Carnegie Mellon University; Fred Valdez, professor of anthropology, University of Texas-Austin; and David Lentz, UC professor of biology.

Starting in 2009, the UC team was the first North American group permitted to work at the Tikal site core in more than 40 years.

Detailed¹¹ in the latest findings by the UC-led efforts are

The largest ancient dam built by the ancient Maya of Central America

Discussion on how reservoir waters were likely released

Details on the construction of a cofferdam needed by the Maya to dredge one of the largest reservoirs at Tikal

The presence of ancient springs linked to the initial colonization¹² of Tikal

Use of sand filtration to cleanse¹³ water entering reservoirs

A "switching station" that accommodated seasonal¹⁴ filling and release of water

Finding of the deepest, rock-cut canal segment in the Maya lowlands

An example of the thick vegetation common in the area where a UC-led team worked in and around Tikal.

According to UC's Scarborough, "The overall goal of the UC research is to better understand how the ancient Maya supported a population at Tikal of perhaps 60,000 to 80,000 inhabitants and an estimated population of five million in the overall Maya lowlands by AD 700."

He added, "That is a much higher number than is supported by the current environment. So, they managed to sustain a populous, highly complex society for well over 1,500 years in a tropical ecology. Their resource needs were great, but they used only stone-age tools and technology to develop a sophisticated, long-lasting management system in order to thrive."

分享到：

点击

收听单词发音

1 excavations
n.挖掘( excavation的名词复数 )；开凿；开凿的洞穴（或山路等）；（发掘出来的）古迹
参考例句：
The excavations are open to the public. 发掘现场对公众开放。 This year's excavations may reveal ancient artifacts. 今年的挖掘可能会发现史前古器物。来自辞典例句

2 sediment
n.沉淀，沉渣，沉积(物)
参考例句：
The sediment settled and the water was clear.杂质沉淀后，水变清了。 Sediment begins to choke the channel's opening.沉积物开始淤塞河道口。

3 paramount
a.最重要的，最高权力的
参考例句：
My paramount object is to save the Union and destroy slavery.我的最高目标是拯救美国，摧毁奴隶制度。 Nitrogen is of paramount importance to life on earth.氮对地球上的生命至关重要。

4 feats
功绩，伟业，技艺( feat的名词复数 )
参考例句：
He used to astound his friends with feats of physical endurance. 过去，他表现出来的惊人耐力常让朋友们大吃一惊。 His heroic feats made him a legend in his own time. 他的英雄业绩使他成了他那个时代的传奇人物。

5 rubble
n.（一堆）碎石，瓦砾
参考例句：
After the earthquake,it took months to clean up the rubble.地震后，花了数月才清理完瓦砾。 After the war many cities were full of rubble.战后许多城市到处可见颓垣残壁。

6 proceedings
n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报
参考例句：
He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。 to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

7 conserved
v.保护，保藏，保存( conserve的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
He conserved his energy for the game. 他为比赛而养精蓄锐。来自《简明英汉词典》 Under these conditions, the total mechanical energy remains constant, or is conserved. 在这种条件下，总机械能保持不变或机械能保存。来自辞典例句

8 populous
adj.人口稠密的，人口众多的
参考例句：
London is the most populous area of Britain.伦敦是英国人口最稠密的地区。 China is the most populous developing country in the world.中国是世界上人口最多的发展中国家。

9 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。

10 weaver
n.织布工；编织者
参考例句：
She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。 The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。

11 detailed
adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的
参考例句：
He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。 A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。

12 colonization
殖民地的开拓，殖民，殖民地化；移殖
参考例句：
Colonization took place during the Habsburg dynasty. 开拓殖民地在哈布斯堡王朝就进行过。 These countries took part in the colonization of Africa. 这些国家参与非洲殖民地的开发。

13 cleanse
vt.使清洁，使纯洁，清洗
参考例句：
Health experts are trying to cleanse the air in cities. 卫生专家们正设法净化城市里的空气。 Fresh fruit juices can also cleanse your body and reduce dark circles.新鲜果汁同样可以清洁你的身体,并对黑眼圈同样有抑制作用。

14 seasonal
adj.季节的，季节性的
参考例句：
The town relies on the seasonal tourist industry for jobs.这个城镇依靠季节性旅游业提供就业机会。 The hors d'oeuvre is seasonal vegetables.餐前小吃是应时蔬菜。