庞贝考古发现“兰博基尼”

湖北 左 琴

公元79年，维苏威火山突然喷发，将庞贝古城掩埋于火山之下。 但考古学家近期在这座著名的考古遗址旁发掘出一辆“兰博基尼”。 它究竟是什么呢？

Calling it an “exceptional discovery”, researchers at Pompeii have announced the uncovering of a ceremonial chariot （双轮敞篷马车） near the famous archaeological site.

The chariot is well preserved. The drawings on it suggest the possibility that it may have been used in marriage ceremonies.

“I was surprised,” said Eric Poehler, a professor who studies traffic in ancient Pompeii at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.Many of the vehicles he'd written about before are standard station wagons or vehicles for taking the kids to soccer. “This is a ‘Lamborghini’.This is a super fancy car,” the professor added.

Archaeologists worldwide expressed similar excitement over the announcement. “My jaw is on the floor just now! Pompeii never stops giving us surprises! ” wrote Jane Draycott of the University of Glasgow.

The ancient city of Pompeii has been the subject of fascination and archaeological digs for hundreds of years. It was buried in volcanic ash from Mt. Vesuvius in 79, a disaster that preserved some ancient scenes in surprising detail.Even the shapes of the bodies of the Romans who once walked the city's streets have been preserved.

According to Italian authorities, the chariot survived the eruption and time because it was stored inside a portico （门 廊）. The eruption caused the walls and ceiling around it to fall down under the weight of volcanic ash. In recent years, thieves dug tunnels on either side. But surprisingly, the chariot was spared.

While archaeologists had previously dug out everyday vehicles used for travel and work,this ceremonial chariot is the first find of its kind to be discovered. It is an extraordinary discovery for the advancement of our knowledge of the ancient world. It reveals the residents of the ancient world: their fast food preferences, how their taverns （酒馆） were decorated, and their unlucky deaths.

Reading Check

What is the “Lamborghini” dug out near the famous archaeological site likely to be?

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