Ancient Alcoholic Beverage Discovered in China

Researchers in China have made a remarkable discovery: a large bottle containing an alcoholic beverage over 2,200 years old. This ancient find was sealed in a bronze vessel within a Qin tomb at the Shanjiabao cemetery, located in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

The discovery was detailed in the June issue of the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. The tomb dates back to the Warring States period, which lasted from 475 to 221 B.C. This era was marked by the existence of rival kingdoms before China’s eventual unification.

We were surprised by the large volume and exceptional state of preservation, said Ruru Chen, a researcher at Northwest University’s School of Cultural Heritage.

The vessel contained an impressive 3,740 milliliters, or 3.74 liters, of a well-preserved cereal-based alcoholic beverage. This liquid has often been broadly referred to as “beer.” The absence of a noticeable odor and the clear, light blue-green appearance of the liquid added to its intrigue.

Composition and Analysis

Researchers could identify the beverage by combining organic chemistry, metabolomics, starch grain analysis, yeast remains, and other microscopic evaluations. This evidence allowed them to understand the beverage’s composition and reconstruct its brewing process.

Based on their analysis, the drink was mainly brewed from broomcorn millet, with a smaller contribution from wheat or barley. It resembled a non-distilled beverage made from millet or a mixture of millet with wheat or barley. High concentrations of lactic and oxalic acids, among other organic compounds, confirmed its cereal-based origins.

Preservation and Future Research

The discovery is particularly rare due to the excellent preservation of the liquid, dating back to the Warring States period. According to Chen, this is one of the largest volumes of alcoholic beverage residue from this period ever recovered.

The preservation may be attributed to the relatively dry local climate, the bronze vessel itself, its seal, and the burial conditions. Researchers aim to explore these factors further in upcoming studies.

This find aligns with other discoveries of ancient fermented beverages, such as those found at a Bronze Age cemetery in northwestern China. Such research sheds light on how people in ancient times brewed beer-like drinks from cereals like millet, rice, wheat, and barley.