10個終於被解開但仍耐人尋味的歷史之謎(下)
5. The Shape Of Stonehenge
5.巨石陣的形狀
For a long time, historians have been divided on whether the stones at Stonehenge had originally formed a full circle. With no stones found in the southwest area, some researchers believed the structure had never been completed.
在很長一段時間，歷史學家在巨石陣的石頭在形成初期是否是一個完整的圓這個問題上有了分歧。因爲在巨石陣的西南部並沒有發現任何石頭，一些研究者認爲這個結構從未完整過。
But a short hosepipe accidentally solved the mystery without excavation or expensive equipment. Tens of thousands of people had earlier overlooked the answer.
但是一段小小的水管竟然偶然地解開了這個謎團，這並沒有開掘現場或者用到任何昂貴的裝備。數以萬計的人們一早就忽略了這個謎底。
When a custodian couldn't water the grass in the entire Stonehenge area (as was usually done) due to the short hose, the grass failed to grow in the unwatered area, revealing depressions in the ground. If some of those parched areas had held stones, the circle would have been complete. Other brown patches matched areas of known archaeological excavations, confirming that the parched areas represented ground that had been intentionally disturbed.
因爲水管不夠長，看守人不能澆到整個巨石陣區域的草（就像之前每次做的那樣），沒有澆到水的區域長不出草來，顯得這片地面比較蕭條。如果這些乾枯的區域上有過石頭，那麼巨石陣可能曾經確實是一個圈。其它褐色土地對應着已知的考古發掘現場，證實了這些乾枯的區域代表着那些被人爲破壞的地面。
"A lot of people assume we've excavated the entire site and everything we're ever going to know about the monument is known,” said historian Susan Greaney of English Heritage. “But actually, there's quite a lot we still don't know and there's quite a lot that can be discovered just through non-excavation methods.”
“很多人以爲我們發掘了整個現場，並且關於這座歷史遺蹟所有我們該知道的都知道了，”英格蘭遺產組織的歷史學家蘇珊·格里尼說，“但是實際上，我們仍然還有很多不知道的東西，而且有很多東西我們可以利用非開挖的方式來發現。”
That still leaves the mystery of what happened to the missing stones. Were they used to build houses or roads in the area? No one knows, but English Heritage may purposely avoid watering some areas of Stonehenge during the next dry spell to see if the answers to other puzzles emerge.
那些不見了的石頭髮生了什麼仍然是個謎團。它們是否被用來在當地建造房屋和路面，沒有人知道，但是英格蘭遺產組織可能會在下一段乾旱期有意識的避免給巨石陣的一些區域澆水，以觀察其它謎團的答案是否會浮現。
4. The Disappearance Of The Nazca Civilization
4. 消失的納斯卡文明
For years, historians were baffled by the mysterious disappearance of the Nazca people of Peru around A.D. 500. This was the civilization responsible for the Nazca lines, huge geoglyphs carved into the ground in that region. There have been many theories to explain the lines, but most historians agree that the Nazca probably used them as sacred pathways when practicing their rituals.
多年來，歷史學家們一直對公元500年左右，神祕民族納斯卡人的消失感到困惑。納斯卡人創造了納斯卡線，他們在這個地方深深地刻上了地質痕跡。對於納斯卡線的說法衆說紛紜，其中大多數歷史學家們認同的觀點是它們其實是在古代儀式中讓人跟着走的神聖路線。
In recent years, scientists have determined that the Nazca civilization caused its own destruction. By clearing so many huarango trees in their valleys for farming, they did irreparable damage to their environment. These nitrogen-fixing trees increased moisture and soil fertility. Without enough of them, the climate became too arid to grow food.
近幾年，科學家發現納斯卡人是自己導致這個民族毀滅的。他們爲了農業生產，不惜破壞Huarango樹，對環境造成了不能彌補的破壞。Huarango樹是有固氮作用的樹種，同時可以增加土壤溼度和使土地變得肥沃。砍伐Huarango樹會導致氣候過於乾燥，不能種植糧食。
"The huarango . . . was an important source of food, forage, timber, and fuel for the local people," said archaeologist David Beresford-Jones. The species was responsible for "enhancing soil fertility and moisture, ameliorating desert extremes in the microclimate beneath its canopy and underpinning the floodplain with one of the deepest root systems of any tree known. In time, gradual woodland clearance crossed an ecological threshold—sharply defined in such desert environments—exposing the landscape to the region's extraordinary desert winds and the effects of El Nino floods."
“ Huarango樹是當地人最重要的食物，飼料，木材和燃料的來源。”考古學家大衛·貝雷斯福德·瓊斯博士說，“這個樹種可以提高土壤肥力和溼度，改變極端的沙漠氣候，以其深深的樹根保護所在地區免遭洪澇之苦。”隨着時間推移，林地的不斷砍伐到了生態臨界點，將土地暴露於極端的沙塵暴以及厄爾尼諾洪水中。
Scientists believe that a major El Nino event occurred around the same time as the deforestation, triggering devastating floods due to the lack of trees. After that, the Nazca would have been unable to grow enough food for their people in that area.
科學家們相信，森林砍伐後，當厄爾尼諾現象來臨，納斯卡的灌溉系統被洪水所淹沒，從那以後，納斯卡不再適合生產，也不能爲居民提供食物了。
3. A War Bracelet Comes Home
3.身份牌回家
While serving in the Army during World War II, Warren McCauley lost or left his silver identification bracelet ("dog tag") in Castel D'Aiano, Italy in 1945. According to an Army news release that year, war hero McCauley received the Bronze Star when he "fearlessly advanced under a hail of small-arms fire to restore communications" after the German enemy cut wire lines.
在二戰服役時，沃倫·麥考利1945年在意大利的達伊阿諾城堡失去了能證明他身份的銀牌（狗牌）。據當年的軍方消息稱，戰爭英雄麥考利被授予青銅獎章，爲了表彰他在德軍切斷了金屬線後，勇敢地去恢復通信。
While in Castel D'Aiano, McCauley stopped at the de Maria home, which the Italian family had opened to American soldiers for food and medical care. When McCauley left, his bracelet stayed behind, although no one knows if he lost it, forgot it, or left it on purpose as a kind of payment or tribute to the de Maria family. Nevertheless, Bruna de Maria, then eight years old and living there in poverty, found the bracelet and kept it as an unexpected treasure. She always lovingly cared for the bracelet but never tried to find its owner.
在達伊阿諾城堡，麥考利住在瑪利亞家，這個意大利家庭爲他這個美國士兵提供了食物和醫療幫助。麥考利離開時，他的姓名牌留在了那裏，沒有人知道，他當時是丟了，還是忘記了，或是作爲酬謝或是禮物送給瑪利亞家。
Decades later, her grown son, Stefano Sedda, persuaded his mother to return her treasure to its original owner. "This bracelet made history," Sedda explained. "It belonged to an American soldier who came here to fight, to defend our country—that's why I thought of giving it back."
數十年後，瑪利亞長大的兒子斯特凡諾·薩奇勸他的母親把這塊姓名牌送還給它原來的主人。“這塊姓名牌承載了歷史，”薩奇解釋道，“這是一個美國大兵來到我們國家爲了保護我們而戰鬥。”這就是我爲什麼想還回去的理由。
Through a friend, Sedda contacted an American lawyer, who worked with a journalist and the Army to trace the bracelet's ID number to McCauley. Though McCauley had died 30 years earlier, they found his 85-year-old widow, Twila McCauley, living in Buena Vista, California. Warren McCauley had shared some wartime stories with his family—like the time he fell into a river and a donkey walked over him—but he'd never told them about the bracelet.
通過朋友，薩奇聯繫到一個美國律師，這個律師曾與一位記者工作過。後來，軍隊通過姓名牌編號查到這是屬於麥考利的，儘管他已經過世30年了，但他們找到了他85歲的遺孀，特維拉·麥考利，她住在加利福尼亞的布埃納維斯塔。沃倫·麥考利給他的家人講述過他的故事，比如他掉入河中還有驢子從他身邊走過，但他沒有提到姓名牌。
Along with the rest of her family, Mrs. McCauley was touched and grateful to have this special connection to her late husband brought home almost 70 years after it went missing.
麥考利太太及全家都被觸動了並很感激在她晚年能得到丈夫的身份牌。
2. The Cambyses Cover-Up
2.岡比西斯（Cambyes,古波斯帝國國王）之隱瞞事件
As we've discussed earlier, the lost army of Persian king Cambyses II has been a great historical mystery. Around 524 B.C., the king ordered 50,000 men into the Egyptian desert around the ancient city of Thebes (now Luxor). When the men disappeared, the official story from ancient historians said the army had been wiped out by a sandstorm.
正如我們之前討論的，莫名消失的波斯國王岡比西斯二世（Cambyses II）的軍隊，成爲了重大的歷史之謎。大約公元前524年，岡比西斯二世命令5萬士兵進駐埃及的底比斯城古城（現在的盧克索）的沙漠地區。這些士兵消失後，古代歷史學家的官方報道聲稱，軍隊被沙塵暴所吞噬。
However, modern Egyptologist Olaf Kaper was skeptical. "Since the 19th century, people have been looking for this army: amateurs, as well as professional archaeologists," Kaper said. "Some expect to find somewhere under the ground an entire army, fully equipped. However, experience has long shown that you cannot die from a sandstorm, let alone have an entire army disappear."
然而，當代埃及考古學家奧拉夫·開普（Olaf Kaper）對此卻持相反觀點，“自19世紀以來，民間人士和考古專家一直在尋找這支軍隊，”開普表示，“一些人期許在地底下找到這支全副武裝的軍隊。然而，經驗證實，沙暴不會吞噬一個人，更不必說吞噬整支軍隊。”
By piecing together information from excavations, historical records, and especially the writings of an Egyptian rebel leader (which Kaper had translated from ancient temple blocks), Kaper believes the Persian army was on its way to Dachla Oasis, where the rebel leader Petubastis III and his troops had been located. But the Persian army was ambushed by the rebel leader and suffered a crushing defeat. From his victory, Petubastis went on to reconquer much of Egypt and crown himself Pharaoh in the capital of Memphis.
開普從考古發掘、歷史記載，尤其是一位埃及叛軍領袖的手稿中判斷，波斯軍隊是在去戴拉（Dachla）綠洲的路上莫名消失的，而該地是叛軍領袖派塔貝斯特斯三世（Petubastis III）的軍隊所駐紮之地。如此，波斯軍隊遭遇叛軍的伏擊，並且慘敗。戰鬥勝利後，派塔貝斯特斯三世繼續征服更多的埃及領地並且在孟斐斯（Memphis）首都爲自己加冕。
According to Kaper, the Persian king Darius I put an end to this Egyptian rebellion in a bloody battle two years after Cambyses was defeated. To restore Persia's dignity, Darius covered up his predecessor's embarrassing downfall with the sandstorm story.
開普認爲，在岡比西斯戰敗後，波斯國王大流士一世（Darius I）平定了長達2年的殘酷戰爭。爲了挽回波斯的尊嚴，大流士以沙暴之說來掩蓋其前期不堪入目的衰敗時期。
1. What Caused The Hindenburg Explosion
1. 興登堡號爆炸之迷
The promise of the Hindenburg, a hydrogen-filled airship that could cross the Atlantic in half the time of a ship at sea, exploded along with the craft itself as it prepared to land in Lakehurst, New Jersey in May 1937. Of the 100 people on board that day, 35 died.
興登堡號是一艘充滿氫氣的飛艇。在當時，它穿過大西洋所需的時間只是普通輪船的一半。然而，1937年5月，正當興登堡號準備在新澤西的萊克赫斯特海軍航空總站着陸時，發生了爆炸。當時，興登堡號上有100人，35人遇難。
Scientists have debated the reason for the explosion for decades. They knew that a spark ignited leaking hydrogen, but they differed on the reason for the spark and the leaking gas. Theories included lightning, explosive properties in paint, and a bomb.
科學家們爲其爆炸原因爭論了幾十年。他們認爲，是火花引燃了泄露的氫氣。但是，科學家們對火花和泄漏的氫氣的原因的看法產生了分歧。可能的原因包括閃電、油漆上的易爆物質或者炸彈引發了爆炸。
However, in 2013, a team of experts ruled out the other theories and determined that the Hindenburg had become charged with static electricity from a thunderstorm. Either a faulty gas valve or broken wire caused hydrogen to leak into the ventilation shafts. A spark of static electricity ignited the hydrogen, which started the fire in the tail section and led to the explosion.
然而，在2013年，一個專家團隊排除了其他可能的原因，認爲興登堡號爆炸的原因是由於大雷雨所產生的靜電所致。氣體閥泄漏或者線路損壞，導致了氫氣進入到通風裝置中。在飛艇尾翼，靜電產生的火花引燃了氫氣，導致爆炸。
"I think the most likely mechanism for providing the spark is electrostatic," said British aeronautical engineer Jem Stansfield. "That starts at the top, then the flames from our experiments [blowing up or setting fire to scale models of the airship] would've probably tracked down to the center. With an explosive mixture of gas, that gave the whoomph when it got to the bottom."
英國航空工程師傑姆·斯坦斯菲爾德（Jem Stansfield）表示，“我認爲，產生火花最可能的原因是靜電。”實驗用發泡類物質製作了一個同比例飛艇模型。在實驗初始階段，火焰在飛艇的頂部燃燒，進而燃燒到了飛艇中心。混合的爆炸性氣體進入到飛船底部的時候，飛船發生了劇烈爆炸。
注：本文轉載自前十網，譯者：Freya然
