根据最新研究， 2000 年前不列颠群岛上的社会关系主要围绕着女性血缘构建，因此土地和财富主要由女儿们而非儿子们继承。
The most legendary Celtic woman was Boudica, the warrior queen who led a revolt against the Romans almost 2,000 years ago. But new analysis suggests she might have been the norm, not the exception.
最赫赫有名的凯尔特女性是布狄卡，这位女武士王后曾在近 2000 年前带头反抗罗马人的统治。但最新的分析结果显示，她所代表的女性统治者在当时可能是一种常态而非特例。
Archaeologists excavated 57 skeletons of people from the Durotriges tribe in Dorset. DNA sequencing of the genes passed from mother to daughter, compared to from father to son, revealed that most of the women were blood relatives. By contrast, the men were from lots of different communities, effectively outsiders. Dr Lara Cassidy, from Trinity College, Dublin, says this shows the society was matrilocal, meaning men moved to join their wives and families.
考古学家在多赛特郡挖掘出了属于杜罗特里吉部落成员的 57 具骨架。由母亲遗传给给女儿的基因的 DNA 测序结果与父亲遗传给儿子的相比，显示出大多数女性之间都具有血缘关系。而与普遍具有血缘关系的女性不同，男性则来自许多不同的家族，实际上都是血缘关系中的外来人。都柏林大学圣三一学院的劳拉·卡西迪博士说，这个研究结果显示出当时的社会有入赘的习俗，即男性会迁移以陪伴其妻子和家庭。
Inheriting land and wealth did not mean the daughters were political rulers, but they would have had significant influence. The scientists discovered the same DNA pattern in other Iron Age cemeteries. Perhaps Boudica was just one in a land of powerful women calling the shots at a time of great upheaval.
虽然继承土地和财富并不意味着女性后代会成为政治上的统治者，但她们可能有着显著的影响力。科学家们在其它铁器时代的墓葬中发现了相同的女性血缘更普遍的 DNA 遗传模式。也许在那段动荡的历史中，布狄卡只是在这片土地上做主的有权势的女性中的一员。
词汇表
warrior 战士，武士
revolt 反叛，反抗
the norm 常态
excavated 挖掘出来的
tribe 部落，宗族
DNA sequencing DNA（脱氧核糖核酸）测序
blood relatives 血亲，有血缘关系的亲属
outsiders 外来者
inheriting 继承
cemeteries 墓地，墓园
calling the shots 掌控，做主
upheaval 剧变，动荡
听力练习
一、听第一遍音频，回答问题。
1. Write one sentence describing what has been discovered about women in Celtic times.
二、用一分钟阅读下列问题，然后听第二遍音频并回答问题。
1. Who was Boudica?
a. a skeleton the archaeologists excavated
b. the leader of the Durotriges tribe
c. a Celtic queen who led a revolt
2. Most of the women skeletons excavated were related to each other.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given
3. What does matrilocal mean?
a. women were outsiders compared to men
b. families were separated
c. men moved to join their wives and families
4. Men and women were allowed to be political rulers in Celtic times.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given
三、听第三遍音频，将句子补充完整。（提示：可以反复听，直到听清楚每一个词）
1. DNA sequencing of the ________________ passed from mother to daughter.
2. Perhaps Boudica was just one in ________________ powerful women calling the shots at a time of great upheaval.
答案
一、听第一遍音频，回答问题。
1. Write one sentence describing what has been discovered about women in Celtic times.
They found that communities were built around women, rather than men.
二、用一分钟阅读下列问题，然后听第二遍音频并回答问题。
1. c. The most legendary Celtic woman was Boudica, the warrior queen who led a revolt against the Romans almost 2,000 years ago.
2. a. True. DNA sequencing revealed that most of the women were blood relatives.
3. c. The society was matrilocal, meaning men moved to join their wives and families.
4. c. Not given. Men or women being allowed to be political rulers is not mentioned.
三、听第三遍音频，将句子补充完整。（提示：可以反复听，直到听清楚每一个词）
1. DNA sequencing of the genes passed from mother to daughter.
2. Perhaps Boudica was just one in a land of powerful women calling the shots at a time of great upheaval.