The Another Influence on Global Warming
全球变暖的又一影响
Remains in some of the coldest places on earth are becoming exposed as warmer temperatures cause ice and hardened ground to thaw, research by experts at the University of Edinburgh's Susiness School has found. Ancient relics at risk include tombs, artefacts and human remains.
根据爱丁堡商学院的专家们的研究发现，那些存留于地球上极寒冷地带的珍贵考古遗迹正因气温上升所导致的冰雪融化，从而面临暴露于"光天化日"之下的危险处境。这些身处危境的古遗迹包括坟墓、人工制品等人类遗迹。
The scientists, who studied cases of damage at three sites across the world, are calling for a global organisation to be set up to maintain a record of vulnerable sites and to co-ordinate efforts to conserve items that are at risk, particularly indigenous remains.
为此，已在全球三个地点查探出有古迹遭到破坏的科学家们呼吁成立一个全球性的保护组织，以便统一监控全球变暖对于历史古迹的破坏情况，然后采取适当措施，加以保护。
Dr Dave Reay, who supervised the study, said: "Warming climates are expected to lead to more melting ice, and we need to take action to safeguard ancient treasures. Long-term efforts are needed to locate archaeological remains that are at risk, and research how best to care for them. We must also consider the political and cultural implications of preserving important relics."
指导该项目的戴夫·雷伊博士说"日益变暖的气候将使得更多的冰川融化，我们必须采取措施，保护那些历史珍宝。要定位那些危险的考古遗迹需要长期的努力，同时还必须要探究出如何保护它们的最好的策略。此外，我们还需要考虑到保、护这些考古遗址在政治与文化的层面上的重要意义。"
Permafrost in the Altai Mountains in central Asia, sea ice in Alaska and glaciers in the Rocky Mountains were studied for the research.
中亚的阿尔泰山的永久冻结带，阿拉斯加的海冰，洛基山山脉冰川等众多地域都是此项研究的对象。
Scientists found that coastal erosion caused by retreating sea Ice is damaging remains in an Inuit village in Alaska, including a fourth-century coastal cemetery.
科学家们发现，因海冰的消退而造出的海岸腐蚀正在破坏在阿拉斯加因纽特人村庄的古迹，这其中就包括一个四世纪时的沿海墓地遗迹。
Melting glaciers in the Rocky Mountains were also found to be posing a threat to Native American human remains and artefacts such as hunting tools, weapons and clothing.
同样，在洛基山脉也发现，融化的冰川已对当地的原著民的遗骸，以及诸如狞猎工具、武器、衣服等手工制品造成了破坏。
The research also showed that thawing temperatures in the Altai Mountains put burial mounds at risk.The site contains the only frozen tombs in the world and is the resting place of Eurasian nomadic horsemen with links to modern-day Siberian nomads.
这项研究同时还显示出，气温升高还使得阿尔泰山古代遗家的保存陷入困境。这里是世界上唯——处冰冻墓群，也是揭示欧亚游牧骑兵与现代西伯利亚游牧部落之间关系的不动物证。
Katie Molyneaux, primary researcher on the study, said: "There have been studies that climate change is a major factor affecting all of these sites. At the site in Alaska I was blown away by the rate of damage. The melting sea ice has meant large waves have caused the coast to retreat by metres every year.
主要研究人员凯蒂·莫里诺说气候的改变是影响这些地区发生变化的主要因素。阿拉斯加地区所遭受的破坏让我相当震惊，海冰融化所形成的海琅使得海岸线每年都要后退数米。"
"A lot of these sites are undocumented and are only being studied as they protrude out of the ice when they are already starting to degrade."
"其实，不光是已经被发掘了的遗迹，还有很多尚未正式登记的地域也在遭受气候变暖所带来的危险。"
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