In the normal course of events, clay dissolves and disappears, and any message on it is erased.

因为在一般的情况下,粘土会分崩离析,所有的信息将灰飞烟灭

耶鲁公开课 - 古希腊历史简介课程节选

Not at the same time, but the reason we have any written evidence at all is that there was some kind of conflagration that produced a fire that baked clay into pottery.

虽然不是在同一时间,不过我们能发现这些可读记录,全靠这些意外的火灾,将那些粘土烧制成了陶器

耶鲁公开课 - 古希腊历史简介课程节选

For example, one thing that could happen is that you build it up with wood and clay, you pick the wrong material for a bridge, and it will not stand up to the forces of nature.

例如,其中的一个问题是,选择了木头和粘土作为造桥的材料,你就选错了材料,这座桥难以与自然力相抗衡

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