In the Near East, they remained in use for more than two and a half millennia, and in certain areas they lasted down to the beginning of the common era until finally yielding, once and for all, to more convenient alternatives.
结构分析:
并列复合句,句1, and 句2。句2包含until 引导的状语从句。
句子分析:
In the Near East, they remained in use for more than two and a half millennia,
句1中,in the Near East为地点状语, they是主语, remained 谓语, in use为表语, for more than two and a half millennia 时间状语,本部分意思: 在近东,它们的使用时间超过了2500年。
and in certain areas they lasted down to the beginning of the common era 句2中, in certain areas 状语,they主语 lasted谓语,down to the beginning of the common era为时间状语 。
本部分意思:在某些地区,它们一直延续到共同时代的开始。
until 引导的从句中,省略了主语they, 谓语动词改成了现在分词:yielding to, more convenient alternative 作宾语。插入语:once and for all。
本部分意思:直到最终彻底地屈服,用更方便的东西取而代之。
参考翻译:
在近东,它们的使用时间超过了2500年,在某些地区,它们一直延续到共同时代的开始,直到最终彻底被更方便的东西取而代之。