A team of researchers from the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archeology in China has unearthed a bronze kettle with liquor dating back to the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC).
2,200-year-old liquor. Image credit: Li Yibo, Xinhua.
The 2,200-year-old bronze kettle is a sacrificial vessel among 260 other items found in Qin Dynasty tombs in China’s Shaanxi province.
“The kettle had its opening sealed with plants and natural fibers,” said Dr. Zhang Yanglizheng, an archaeologist with the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archeology.
“Surprisingly, we found about 10 fl oz (300 ml) of liquor in it.”
“The liquor was milky white when we found it, and was a little muddy,” he said.
“Later test showed that it was composed of high concentration amino acid substances and also small amounts of protein and fatty acids, which made it similar to yellow rice wine we drink nowadays.”
The team also unearthed a 2-foot (60 cm) long bronze sword with ‘octahedrons in the middle to increase the weapon’s effectiveness.’
“This copper sword should have been a combat weapon,” Dr. Zhang said.
“There are obvious signs of wear on the sword, which suggests that it was used in a lot of wars by its owner.”
“Another important find was a 5.5-inch (14 cm) long turtle plastron shell with a dozen punches inside the shell and burn marks on its edge suggesting that it was used by a fortune-teller for divination.”
Source link: https://www.sci.news/archaeology/qin-dynasty-liquor-05838.html
