Chinese archaeologists unearth 2,400-year-old 'soup'
Experts say the 'bone soup' in the vessel turned green due to the oxidation of the bronze Chinese archaeologists have unearthed what they believe is a 2,400-year-old pot of soup, state media report.
The liquid and bones were in a sealed bronze cooking vessel dug up near the ancient capital of Xian - home to the country's famed terracotta warriors.Tests are being carried out to identify the ingredients. An odourless liquid, believed to be wine, was also found.
The pots were discovered in a tomb being excavated to make way for an extension to the local airport.
"It's the first discovery of bone soup in Chinese archaeological history," the newspaper quoted Liu Daiyun of the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology as saying.
"The discovery will play an important role in studying the eating habits and culture of the Warring States Period (475-221BC)."
The scientists said the tomb could have held the body of either a member of the land-owning class or a low-ranking military officer, the report said.
Xian served as China's capital for more than 1,100 years.
In 1974, the terracotta army was found there at the burial site of Qin Shihuang, China's first emperor.
He presided over the unification of China in 221BC and ruled until 210BC
China unearths 114 new Terracotta Warriors | |
Archaeologists in China have unearthed 114 new terracotta warriors at the vast Qin dynasty tomb complex near Xian in Shaanxi province, state media reports. The statues, many of which were found in pieces, were brightly coloured and lying alongside pots, weapons and other items, said China Daily. Research teams also found evidence of burn marks on the clay, proof that the pit had at some point been set on fire. More than 8,000 of the statues, made in 221BC, have already been unearthed. Xu Weihong, head of the research team, told China Daily the warriors had been found during the third excavation of the largest of the three pits at the tomb complex. The excavations began in June last year. "We were pleasantly surprised to find rich colours on the Terracotta Warriors," he said. "It was hard work to restore the clay warriors as they were broken into pieces. It took us at least 10 days to restore one." Blaze evidence Archaeologists say all the warriors would originally have been brightly decorated but that 2,000 years underground has worn away the paint. Liu Zhanchang, director of the Museum of Qin Shihuang Terracotta Warriors and Horses, said the burn marks found were proof that the pit had been set on fire. It was already thought that the mausoleum was set on fire by a rebel leader soon after its construction, although much of the contents survived. The mausoleum was built for Emperor Qin Shihuang, considered the first emperor of China and the individually decorated warriors were intended to protect him in death. The complex was rediscovered by chance in 1974 by villagers, and excavation has continued ever since. | |
China unearths 114 new Terracotta Warriors | |
Archaeologists in China have unearthed 114 new terracotta warriors at the vast Qin dynasty tomb complex near Xian in Shaanxi province, state media reports. The statues, many of which were found in pieces, were brightly coloured and lying alongside pots, weapons and other items, said China Daily. Research teams also found evidence of burn marks on the clay, proof that the pit had at some point been set on fire. More than 8,000 of the statues, made in 221BC, have already been unearthed. Xu Weihong, head of the research team, told China Daily the warriors had been found during the third excavation of the largest of the three pits at the tomb complex. The excavations began in June last year. "We were pleasantly surprised to find rich colours on the Terracotta Warriors," he said. "It was hard work to restore the clay warriors as they were broken into pieces. It took us at least 10 days to restore one." Blaze evidence Archaeologists say all the warriors would originally have been brightly decorated but that 2,000 years underground has worn away the paint. Liu Zhanchang, director of the Museum of Qin Shihuang Terracotta Warriors and Horses, said the burn marks found were proof that the pit had been set on fire. It was already thought that the mausoleum was set on fire by a rebel leader soon after its construction, although much of the contents survived. The mausoleum was built for Emperor Qin Shihuang, considered the first emperor of China and the individually decorated warriors were intended to protect him in death. The complex was rediscovered by chance in 1974 by villagers, and excavation has continued ever since. | |
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