雙語閱讀 | 日本挖掘遺骸表明19世紀該地曾爆發(fā)過傳染病

Remains from Mass Grave in Japan Suggest Epidemic in 1800s

日本亂葬坑遺骸表明19世紀該地曾爆發(fā)過傳染病

Workers have unearthed the remains of more than 1,500 people in western Japan. Archeologists report finding evidence that many of those individuals died of disease, possibly in an epidemic.

工人們在日本西部挖掘出1500多具遺骸。考古學家報告說，他們發(fā)現(xiàn)的證據(jù)表明，其中許多人患病而死，可能是死于一場傳染病。

The burial ground is thought to date back to the 1850s. It is being dug up for a development project in the city of Osaka.

該墓地的歷史可以追溯到19世紀50年代。由于大阪的一個開發(fā)項目，它被挖掘了出來。

Officials at Osaka’s City Cultural Properties Association have studied the remains. They said many of the individuals were likely in their 30s or small children when they died.

大阪城市文化產(chǎn)業(yè)協(xié)會的官員們對這些遺骸進行了研究。他們說，很多人可能在30多歲或還很小的時候就死了。

The Umeda Grave is one of seven historical burial grounds in Osaka. It was discovered near a main train station as part of a redevelopment project that began in September 2019.

梅田墓是大阪七個具有歷史意義的墓地之一。它是在一個大型火車站附近被發(fā)現(xiàn)的，是2019年9月開始的一個再開發(fā)項目的一部分。

In an earlier study, workers dug up hundreds of similar remains in surrounding areas, said Yoji Hirata, an official at Osaka’s Cultural Properties Association.

平田說，在早些時候的一項研究中，工人們在周邊地區(qū)挖掘出了數(shù)百具類似的遺骸。他是大阪文化產(chǎn)業(yè)協(xié)會的官員。

“It was our first historical discovery of a burial site in Osaka,” Hirata said. “The findings will provide details of burial traditions of ordinary people back then.”

平田說:“這是我們在大阪歷史上首次發(fā)現(xiàn)墓地。這些發(fā)現(xiàn)將提供當時普通人埋葬傳統(tǒng)的細節(jié)。”

In the earlier find, many remains showed signs of disease in the hands and feet. The discovery of additional, similar remains suggests the 19th century mass grave was used for victims of an epidemic in the area, Hirata said.

在早期的發(fā)現(xiàn)中，許多遺骸的手腳都有患病的跡象。另外發(fā)現(xiàn)的類似遺骸表明，這個19世紀的萬人坑曾被用來埋葬該地區(qū)傳染病的受害者，平田說。

All the remains have been removed from the work area. Experts hope to examine them and other objects to learn more details about the deaths. Some experts have suggested that the epidemic could have involved syphilis, which was widespread during the time in populated areas.

所有遺骸已從工作區(qū)移走。專家們希望對它們和其他物品進行檢查，以了解更多有關(guān)致死的細節(jié)。一些專家認為，這種流行病可能與當時在人口密集地區(qū)廣泛傳播的梅毒有關(guān)。

Many of the remains were in small round holes, where bodies appeared to have been buried on top of each other. Researchers found coffins containing more than one skeleton, a sign that many epidemic victims were buried together, Hirata said.

許多遺骸被埋在小圓洞里，尸體似乎一具摞一具的埋在里面。平田說，研究人員發(fā)現(xiàn)棺材中不止有一具骸骨，這表明許多傳染病患者被葬在一起。

Reuters news agency says researchers discovered about 350 small graves. They also found the remains of animals including four piglets, horses and cats, city officials said. Researchers also unearthed money, Buddhist jewelry and dolls that were believed to have been buried with the dead.

路透社說，研究人員發(fā)現(xiàn)了大約350座小墳?zāi)埂Ｊ姓賳T說，他們還發(fā)現(xiàn)了包括四只小豬、馬和貓在內(nèi)的動物尸體。研究人員還發(fā)現(xiàn)了錢幣、佛教珠寶和玩偶，這些被認為是和死者一起埋葬的。

Hirata said experts plan to prepare a report with their findings by the end of next year. The burial ground sits in what used to be a farming area near the city’s famous Osaka Castle. It was one of seven major cemeteries in the city.

平田說，專家們計劃在明年年底前準備一份報告，公布他們的調(diào)查結(jié)果。墓地位于大阪著名的城堡附近，原來是一片農(nóng)田。它是該市七大墓地之一。

People used to visit the cemeteries to pray for their ancestors during Japan’s mid-summer Bon season under Buddhist tradition.

根據(jù)佛教傳統(tǒng)，在日本的仲夏元宵節(jié)期間，人們過去常常會去墓地為他們的祖先祈禱。

I’m Bryan Lynn.

布萊恩·林恩報道。