為什麼這具兩千年前的屍體沒有腐爛？- 卡洛琳·馬歇爾 (Carolyn Marshall)：英語精讀講義

In 1984, two field workers discovered a body in a bog

1984年，兩名野外工作者在一處泥沼中發現了一具屍體，

outside Cheshire, England.

地點位於英格蘭柴郡郊外。

Officials named the body the Lindow Man

官方將這具屍體命名為「林道人」（Lindow Man），

and determined that he'd suffered serious injuries, 片語搭配

並確定他生前受過重傷，

including blunt trauma and strangulation. 用詞

包括鈍器創傷和被勒過的痕跡。

But the most shocking thing about this gruesome story 文法

但關於這個駭人聽聞的故事，最讓人震驚的是，

was that they were able to determine these details

他們竟能查明這些細節，

from a body over 2,000 years old.

儘管這是一具距今已有兩千多年歷史的屍體。

Typically, decomposition would make such injuries hard to detect 文法

通常情況下，即使屍體只埋葬了幾週，

on a body buried just weeks earlier.

腐敗作用也會使這些傷痕難以被察覺。

So, why was this corpse so perfectly preserved? 用詞

那麼，為什麼這具屍體能保存得如此完好？

And why don't all bodies stay in this condition?

為什麼不是所有的屍體都能保持這種狀態？

The answers to these questions live 6 feet underground. 慣用語

這些問題的答案就藏在地下6英尺深處。

It may not appear very lively down here, 文法

雖然地下看起來可能沒什麼生機，

but a single teaspoon of soil contains more organisms 文法

但僅僅一茶匙的土壤裡包含的生物數量，

than there are human beings on the planet.

就比地球上的人口總數還要多。

From bacteria and algae to fungi and protozoa, 片語搭配

從細菌、藻類到真菌和原生動物，

soils are home to one quarter of Earth's biodiversity. 片語搭配

土壤是地球四分之一生物多樣性的家園。

And perhaps the soil's most important inhabitants are microbes,

也許土壤中最重要的居民是微生物，

organisms no larger than several hundred nanometers 文法

這些生物體長不超過幾百奈米，

that decompose all the planet's dead and dying organic material.

卻分解著地球上所有已經死亡和瀕臨死亡的有機物質。

Imagine we drop an apple in the forest. 表達脈絡

想像一下，我們在森林裡扔下了一個蘋果。

As soon as it contacts the soil, 文法

一旦它接觸到土壤，

worms and other invertebrates begin breaking it down into smaller parts, 片語動詞

蠕蟲和其他無脊椎動物就會開始將它分解成更小的部分，

absorbing nutrients from what they consume and excreting the rest. 文法

從吃掉的部分中吸收營養，然後排泄出剩下的部分。

This first stage of decomposition sets the scene for microbes. 慣用語

分解的第一階段為微生物的登場做好了準備。

The specific microbes present depend on the environment.

存在的具體微生物種類取決於所處的環境。

For example, in grasslands and farm fields,

例如，在草原和農田裡，

there tend to be more bacteria, 文法

往往有更多的細菌，

which excel at breaking down grass and leaves. 片語搭配

它們擅長分解草和樹葉。

But in this temperate forest, 用詞

但在這片溫帶森林中，

there are more fungi capable of breaking down complex woody materials. 片語搭配

有更多能分解複雜木質材料的真菌。

Looking to harvest more food from the apple's remains, 片語搭配

為了從蘋果的殘骸中獲取更多食物，

these microbes release enzymes that trigger a chemical reaction called oxidation. 用詞

這些微生物會釋放出酶，引發一種叫做「氧化」的化學反應。

This breaks down the molecules of organic matter, 用詞

這會分解有機物的分子，

releasing energy, carbon, and other nutrients

釋放出能量、碳和其他營養物質，

in a process called mineralization. 用詞

這個過程被稱為「礦化作用」。

Then microbes consume the carbon and some nutrients

然後，微生物會消耗碳和一些營養物質，

while excess molecules of nitrogen, sulfur, calcium, and more

同時將多餘的氮、硫、鈣等分子

are left behind in the soil. 片語動詞

留在土壤中。

As insects and worms eat more of the apple,

隨著昆蟲和蠕蟲吃掉更多的蘋果，

they expose more surface area for these microbial enzymes 文法

它們為這些微生物酶暴露出更多的表面積，

to oxidize and mineralize.

以便進行氧化和礦化。

Even the excretions they leave behind are mined by microbes. 慣用語

甚至它們留下的排泄物也會被微生物繼續利用。

This continues until the apple is reduced to nothing, 片語搭配

這一過程一直持續，直到蘋果化為烏有，

a process that would take 1 to 2 months in a temperate forest. 文法

在溫帶森林中，這個過程需要一到兩個月的時間。

Environments that are hot and wet support more microbes

炎熱潮濕的環境能支持更多的微生物生存，

than places that are cold and dry,

這比寒冷乾燥的地方要多，

allowing them to decompose things more quickly. 文法

使得它們能更快地分解物質。

And less complex organic materials break down faster.

而且不那麼複雜的有機物分解得更快。

But, given enough time, 片語搭配

但是，只要有足夠的時間，

all organic matter is reduced to microscopic mineral nutrients.

所有的有機物都會被分解成微觀的礦物營養。

The atomic bonds between these molecules

這些分子之間的原子鍵

are too strong to break down any further. 文法

強大到無法被進一步分解。

So, instead, these nutrients feed plant life,

因此，這些營養物質轉而滋養了植物，

which grow more food that will eventually decompose.

植物生長出更多的食物，而這些食物最終也會被分解。

This constant cycle of creating and decomposing 表達脈絡

這種創造和分解的不斷循環，

supports all life on Earth.

支撐著地球上的所有生命。

But, there are a few environments too hostile 文法

然而，有少數環境過於惡劣，

for these multi-talented microbes,

哪怕是這些多才多藝的微生物也無法生存，

including the peat bogs outside Cheshire, England.

其中就包括英格蘭柴郡郊外的泥炭沼澤。

Peat bogs are mostly made of highly acidic sphagnum mosses. 講解

泥炭沼澤主要由高酸性的泥炭蘚組成。

These plants acidify the soil while also releasing a compound

這些植物不僅能使土壤酸化，還會釋放一種化合物，

that binds to nitrogen, depriving the area of nutrients. 講解

它與氮結合，從而剝奪了該區域的營養物質。

Alongside cold Northern European temperatures, 片語搭配

加上北歐寒冷的氣溫，

these conditions make it impossible for most microbes to function. 文法

這些條件使得絕大多數微生物根本無法發揮作用。

With nothing to break them down, the dead mosses pile up, 講解

由於沒有東西來分解它們，死去的苔蘚越積越多，

preventing oxygen from entering the bog. 片語搭配

阻止了氧氣進入沼澤。

The result is a naturally sealed system. 用詞

結果就形成了一個天然密封的系統。

Whatever organic matter enters a peat bog, just sits there, 講解

任何進入泥炭沼澤的有機物，就只能待在那裡，

like the Lindow Man.

就像「林道人」一樣。

The acid of the bog was strong enough 文法

沼澤的酸性很強，

to dissolve relatively simple material like bone,

足以溶解相對簡單的物質，比如骨頭，

and it turned more complex tissue like skin and organs pitch black. 片語搭配

並把皮膚和器官這樣更複雜的組織變得漆黑。

But his corpse is otherwise so well preserved 文法

但除此以外，他的屍體保存得非常好，

that we can determine he was healthy, mid-20s,

以至於我們可以斷定他生前很健康，二十多歲，

and potentially wealthy, as his body shows few signs of hard labor. 片語搭配

而且可能很富有，因為他的身體幾乎沒有做過重體力勞動的跡象。

We even know the Lindow Man's last meal,

我們甚至知道「林道人」吃的最後一頓飯，

a still undigested piece of charred bread.

是一塊尚未消化的烤麵包。

Scholars are less certain about the circumstances of his death. 片語搭配

至於他的死亡情況，學者們還不太確定。

While cold-blooded murder is a possibility, 慣用語

雖然蓄意謀殺是有可能的，

the extremity of his injuries suggest a ritual sacrifice. 文化背景

但他受重傷的程度暗示這可能是一場儀式性的獻祭。

Even 2,000 years ago,

早在兩千年前，

there's evidence the bog was known for its almost supernatural qualities, 片語搭配

就有證據表明這片沼澤以其近乎超自然的特性而聞名，

a place where the soil beneath your feet wasn't quite dead or alive. 慣用語

在這個地方，你腳下的泥土並非完全處於死或活的狀態。

Of course, you don't need a peat bog to preserve a corpse.

當然，你不需要泥炭沼澤來保存屍體。

Learn how ancient Egyptians made mummies with this video.

透過這個影片來了解一下古埃及人是如何製作木乃伊的吧。