Stonehenge
Stonehenge (英格兰南部的巨石阵), the mysterious ring of ancient monoliths (独块石) from the dawn of Britain’s proud civilization, could be the work of a central European immigrant, archaeologists said not long ago in a shock statement(令人震惊的声明). An early Bronze(青铜)Age(青铜时代) archer(射手), whose grave was discovered near the stone circle last year may have helped build the monument. (46) Or he might have been brought up in a region neighboring Switzerland (瑞士) , such as southern Germany or western Austria.
The archer "would have been a very important person in the Stonehenge area. " said Andrew Fitzpatrick, Wessex Archaeology’s project manager. "It is fascinating to think that someone from abroad could have played an important part in the construction of Britain’s most famous archaeological site".
The 4000-year-old man was identified as an archer because of the flint(遂石) arrowheads(箭头) found by his body, along with other artifacts(史前古器物)belonging to the beaker Culture ( 青铜时代宽口陶器人文化) in the Alpsa (阿尔卑斯上) during the Bronze age. (47) Though it could be coincidence that the man lived close to Stonehenge at about the time the great stones were put in place, archaeologists suspect that he was involved in constructing the monument. The archer, dubbed(被称为)"The King of Stonehenge" by the British press, lived around 2300 BC, about the time the great stone circle was formed in Amesbury, 120 kilometers southwest of London.
The splendid artifacts found in his grave indicated he was a man of wealth, leading archaeologists to speculate he was an important dignitary(高贵人物) involved in the monument’s creation. Stonehenge was built about the time the rich Breaker Culture came to Britain. (48)
(49) He was strongly built but suffered an accident a few years before his death that severed(截断、切断) his left kneecap. Truman said the cause of death was not known, but it could have been a bone infection caused by his leg injury. Archaeologists also found the grave of a younger man, aged 20 to 25, nearby. (50) This indicated they were related and were possibly father and son. Tests on the younger man’s tooth enamel(珐琅) showed that he grew up in Britain. The archaeologists thus speculated the archer lived in Britain for many years and had a family, and was not just passing through.
A. And tests on the chemical components of his tooth enamel showed he grew up in the region that is now known as Switzerland.
B. He and the archer shared an unusual bone structure in their feet.
C. Stonehenge will remain mysterious for many centuries to come.
D. The artifacts found in his rich grave, discovered about 5 kilometers from Stonehenge, and indicated he was obviously a very prominent man.
E. The archer was between 35 and 45 years old when he died.
F. And people of that time would have been able to communicate in early Celtic tongue.