What makes Swartkrans really special
斯瓦特克朗斯的特别之处在于
is a unique collection of animal bones found in the same layer
同一岩层里发现了一组独特的动物遗骨
which Bob thinks are evidence that our ancestors could control fire.
鲍勃认为那是我们祖先使用火的证据
We suddenly found numerous examples of bone that had been burnt,
我们突然间发现了大量被灼烧过的遗骨
suggesting that a very repetitive process had been going on there
说明这是个重复发生的过程
and that bones were being regularly burnt in fires
还有在靠近山洞入口的地方
close to the cave's entrance.
那些骨头是定期焚烧的
In the process,
在人类的发展进程中
our ancestors had gone from being preyed on by animals
我们祖先从被野兽捕食
to using fire to frighten them away and even to hunt them.
发展为用火驱赶野兽 甚至猎捕它们
Once prey, they were now predators.
曾经的猎物成为了猎人
But for Travis,
但对于特拉维斯
the burnt bones represent an even more intriguing possibility.
烧焦的遗骨代表一个更有趣的可能性
Homo erectus might have used fire at Swartkrans in order to cook.
斯瓦特克朗斯的直立人有可能用火烹煮
If we could prove cooking at this site, it would be remarkable.
如果能证明这个遗址有烹煮现象 将是个了不起的发现
This part of the site is a million years old,
这部分遗址有一百万年的历史了
so it would be the earliest evidence of cooking anywhere in the world.
所以这将是全世界最早的烹煮证据