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。
