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Private Museums Store Gaza’s Artifacts

时间:2019-08-24 16:21:42

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(单词翻译)

 

At Walid al-Aqqad’s home in Gaza, hundreds of ancient pots and other objects hang on the walls. In his backyard, pieces of Corinthian columns are on show.

These works represent five thousand years of Gaza’s history.

A small piece of land on the Mediterranean1, Gaza was a major trade path between Egypt and the Levant.

But years of uprisings, war and political problems have hurt examples of its rich archaeological history.

Hamas took control of Gaza from the Palestinian Authority in 2007. In answer, Egypt and Israel ordered a blockade on Gaza.

The Palestinians say the closures have also restricted excavations2, limiting new discoveries.

Hamas has done little to protect Gaza’s ancient works and in some cases has destroyed them. In 2017, Hamas leaders destroyed large parts of Tel Es-Sakan, the remains3 of a 4,500-year-old Bronze Age city, to make way for building projects.

Ayman Hassouna is professor of history and archaeology4 at Gaza’s Islamic University. Hassouna blamed Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Hamas equally for not protecting the territory’s cultural history.

He says Israel has seized objects from archaeological digs and did little to prevent sales of important ancient pieces.

Palestinian leaders of Gaza since 1995 have “attacked many archaeological sites — either intentionally5 or not,” he said.

He also blamed a lack of awareness6 among Gazans of the importance of keeping ancient objects and sites untouched.

“When they find something, they [people in Gaza] would hide it or build over it,” he said.

Heyam al-Bitar is an archaeologist with Gaza’s ministry7 of tourism and antiquities8. She said trafficking of ancient goods is a problem. She added the ministry only learned earlier this year that many ancient Greek silver coins were stolen from Gaza in 2016.

“It’s difficult to track down the trafficking because everything happens in the dark,” she said.

Al-Aqqad is one of the few people trying to save such objects in Gaza. He began his collection in 1975, buying from collectors or searching the coast and new construction sites. Now his house in the southern city of Khan Younis is a museum, welcoming school children and other students of history.

“This museum was established by personal efforts and at the expense of my children’s bread,” al-Aqqad said.

His is one of five legally registered private collections in the Gaza Strip, according to the ministry of tourism.

The ministry keeps a record of all private collections to prevent objects from being sold or removed from Gaza, said al-Bitar.

Owners have received training from the ministry and the Islamic University on how to care for and repair ancient works, she added.

I’m John Russell.

Words in This Story

pot – n. a container that is used for storing or holding something

column – n. a long post made of steel, stone, etc., that is used as a support in a building

archaeology – n. a science that deals with past human life and activities by studying the bones, tools, etc., of ancient people

intentionally – adv. done in a way that is planned or intended

tourism – n. the activity of traveling to a place for pleasure

museum – n. a building in which interesting and valuable things (such as paintings and sculptures or scientific or historical objects) are collected and shown to the public


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1 Mediterranean ezuzT     
adj.地中海的;地中海沿岸的
参考例句:
  • The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
  • Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。
2 excavations 185c90d3198bc18760370b8a86c53f51     
n.挖掘( excavation的名词复数 );开凿;开凿的洞穴(或山路等);(发掘出来的)古迹
参考例句:
  • The excavations are open to the public. 发掘现场对公众开放。
  • This year's excavations may reveal ancient artifacts. 今年的挖掘可能会发现史前古器物。 来自辞典例句
3 remains 1kMzTy     
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹
参考例句:
  • He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
  • The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。
4 archaeology 0v2zi     
n.考古学
参考例句:
  • She teaches archaeology at the university.她在大学里教考古学。
  • He displayed interest in archaeology.他对考古学有兴趣。
5 intentionally 7qOzFn     
ad.故意地,有意地
参考例句:
  • I didn't say it intentionally. 我是无心说的。
  • The local authority ruled that he had made himself intentionally homeless and was therefore not entitled to be rehoused. 当地政府裁定他是有意居无定所,因此没有资格再获得提供住房。
6 awareness 4yWzdW     
n.意识,觉悟,懂事,明智
参考例句:
  • There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
  • Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。
7 ministry kD5x2     
n.(政府的)部;牧师
参考例句:
  • They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
  • We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。
8 antiquities c0cf3d8a964542256e19beef0e9faa29     
n.古老( antiquity的名词复数 );古迹;古人们;古代的风俗习惯
参考例句:
  • There is rest and healing in the contemplation of antiquities. 欣赏古物有休息和疗养之功。 来自辞典例句
  • Bertha developed a fine enthusiasm for the antiquities of London. 伯沙对伦敦的古迹产生了很大的热情。 来自辞典例句

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