时差N小时 史前的牙签

If asked to imagine the first prehistoric¹ tools, crafted and used by our early, hominid ancestors, you'd probably think of crude knives or spear heads, chipped from stone.You probably aren't aware of another human innovation that might be just as old. Today we'll learn about the two million year history of the toothpick, possibly one of humanity's oldest tools.

如果让你去想象做工粗糙，人类最早的祖先使用过的史前牙签，你可能会想到由石头磨成的原始刀具或者矛枪尖。你可能没有意识到另一种同样古老的革新。今天我们就来了解200万年的牙签历史，这可能是人类历史上最古老的工具之一。

Early stone tools, like knives and scrapers, are easy for anthropologists to learn about because these items are still around. Even after two million years, a chipped stone tool is still going to be there when you dig it up. Toothpicks, however, are another story. Made from splinters of wood, thorns, or bone fragments, these can rot and crumble³ away over time, leaving no recognizable trace. If this is so, how can an anthropologist² look at a two million year old fossil site and claim that these early pre-humans picked their teeth?

早期的石头工具，如小刀和刮刀，让人类学家很容易理解，因为在现代社会仍然存在这些东西。即使再过200万年，这些东西仍然埋在地里。然而牙签却是另一回事了。大多数牙签由木头的碎片、荆棘或者骨头碎片制成，会随着时间的流逝腐烂消失，不留下任何可辨别的痕迹。如果是这样的话，为什么人类学家会只凭着200万年前的化石遗址，就声称古代史前人类也用牙签剔牙？

It's certain that no toothpick will ever last two million years, but this isn't the case with teeth. In fact, fossil teeth are the most durable⁴ remnants that anthropologists work with, and some of these ancient teeth display a curious set of grooves⁵. Although these might have been caused by tooth decay, a close examination of the marks seems to indicate that the grooves were worn by repeated toothpicking--probably to alleviate⁶ the pain of gum disease. Indeed, these fossil grooves match the toothpick grooves in the teeth of several modern aboriginal⁷ populations.

可以肯定的是，没有牙签会保存200万年，但牙齿却不一样了。事实上，牙齿化石是人类学家所研究的最持久的残留物。这些古时人类的牙齿上排列着一道道凹槽，很令人好奇。尽管这可能是由于蛀牙引起的，但经过进一步仔细检查，证明这些凹槽似乎是因为长期剔牙而形成，古人类剔牙也可能是为了减轻牙龈疾病引起的疼痛。事实上，不少现代土著居民的牙齿上也出现了凹槽，并与化石上的凹槽相匹配。

It's enough to warm every dentist's heart: The first tools weren't just for preparing food, hunting, or fighting. They might have been used for dental hygiene⁸ as well.

这足以温暖每一位牙医的心：第一个工具不只是为了准备食物，为了狩猎或战斗，也可能是为了保持牙齿卫生。

1 prehistoric   

adj.（有记载的）历史以前的，史前的，古老的

参考例句：

• They have found prehistoric remains.他们发现了史前遗迹。
• It was rather like an exhibition of prehistoric electronic equipment.这儿倒像是在展览古老的电子设备。

2 anthropologist   

n.人类学家，人类学者

参考例句：

• The lecturer is an anthropologist.这位讲师是人类学家。
• The anthropologist unearthed the skull of an ancient human at the site.人类学家在这个遗址挖掘出那块古人类的颅骨。

3 crumble   

vi.碎裂，崩溃；vt.弄碎，摧毁

参考例句：

• Opposition more or less crumbled away.反对势力差不多都瓦解了。
• Even if the seas go dry and rocks crumble,my will will remain firm.纵然海枯石烂，意志永不动摇。

4 durable   

adj.持久的，耐久的

参考例句：

• This raincoat is made of very durable material.这件雨衣是用非常耐用的料子做的。
• They frequently require more major durable purchases.他们经常需要购买耐用消费品。

5 grooves   

n.沟( groove的名词复数 )；槽；老一套；（某种）音乐节奏v.沟( groove的第三人称单数 )；槽；老一套；（某种）音乐节奏

参考例句：

• Wheels leave grooves in a dirt road. 车轮在泥路上留下了凹痕。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Sliding doors move in grooves. 滑动门在槽沟中移动。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 alleviate   

v.减轻，缓和，缓解(痛苦等)

参考例句：

• The doctor gave her an injection to alleviate the pain.医生给她注射以减轻疼痛。
• Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。

7 aboriginal   

adj.（指动植物）土生的，原产地的，土著的

参考例句：

• They managed to wipe out the entire aboriginal population.他们终于把那些土著人全部消灭了。
• The lndians are the aboriginal Americans.印第安人是美国的土著人。

8 hygiene   

n.健康法，卫生学 （a.hygienic）

参考例句：

• Their course of study includes elementary hygiene and medical theory.他们的课程包括基础卫生学和医疗知识。
• He's going to give us a lecture on public hygiene.他要给我们作关于公共卫生方面的报告。