第2496期:Lost Mayan city found in Mexico jungle

The archaeologists found the site under the jungle canopy in the southeastern state of Campeche by accident during an internet search. A PhD student spotted a radar survey posted by an environmental organisation that could peer through thick vegetation.

考古学家们在一次互联网搜索中意外地在丛林树冠下发现了这处位于墨西哥东南部坎佩切州的遗址。一名博士生注意到了一个环境监测组织发布的雷达测绘图，这个雷达可以透过茂密的植被进行勘测。 

Using archaeological tools, the researchers were able to see evidence of nearly 7,000 buildings and a huge city they called Valeriana. Valeriana had temple pyramids, plazas, houses, causeways and reservoirs, and may have been home to up to 50,000 people in the 9th century. Luke Auld-Thomas from Tulane University says it reveals the complexity of Mayan society. 

借由考古学工具，研究人员能看到近七千栋建筑物以及一座巨大的城市存在的证据，他们把这座城市称为瓦莱里亚纳（Valeriana）。瓦莱里亚纳建有许多神庙金字塔、广场、房屋、堤道和蓄水池，并且在公元九世纪时可能有 5 万人居住在此。杜兰大学的卢克·奥尔德-托马斯表示这座城市展现了玛雅社会的复杂性。 

But war, climate change and the Spanish invasion led to the demise of most Mayans. Their descendants still live in the region today, their ancient cities buried beneath their feet. 

但是，战争、气候变化和西班牙的入侵导致了大多数玛雅人的死亡。玛雅人的后代如今依然生活在这个地区。他们古老的城市已经被掩埋在了他们脚下。 

词汇表

archaeologists 考古学家
jungle canopy 丛林树冠
spotted 注意到，发现了
peer through 透过…看
plazas 广场
causeways 堤道
reservoirs 蓄水池
demise 死亡
descendants 后代
buried 掩埋