Chinese archaeologists unearth 2,400-year-old 'soup'

BBC ^ | December 2010 | unattributed

[SunkenCiv]

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.

[SunkenCiv]

Archaeologist Liu Daiyun picks up what experts believe to be a piece of animal bone from soup that dates back 2,400 years contained in a three-legged bronze cauldron in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province Friday. Photo: CFP

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An archaeologist takes an animal bone out of an unearthed bronze tripod on Friday, December 12, 2010.[Photo: ifeng.com]

[csvset]

Nice find.

[SunkenCiv]

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[SunkenCiv]

Thanks, and btw, you were...

...in before a Seinfeld reference.

[SunkenCiv]

Heh... and I should have checked for this one before I posted it; there are a dozen pages of hits in the news search for this story. :’)

[HerrBlucher]

[JoeProBono]

[freedumb2003]

Chinese archaeologists have unearthed what they believe is a 2,400-year-old pot of soup, state media report.

Did it have a curse?

[dangerdoc]

They need to come investigate the fridge where I work.

[dangerdoc]

They need to come investigate the fridge where I work.

[Islander7]

You stole my thunder. LOL!

[Outlaw Woman]

interesting. Sounds sort of disgusting though. :O

Just like my mom’s, mom’s, mom’s, mom’s mom’s, mom’s, mom’s mom used to make huh...

[marsh2]

Some like it hot. Some like it cold. Some like it in the pot 2,400 years old.

[Condor51]

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.

I love the Brits way with words.
That's their way of saying..

He KILLED all his enemies.

[SunkenCiv]

:’) The soldier buried in this tomb helped annihilate the Croutons.

[SunkenCiv]

:’)

[SunkenCiv]

2400 year old cooked fish heads and bird claws, mmmm...

[montyspython]

They forgot to mention the 3000 year old fortune cookie they found next to the bowl.

[SunkenCiv]

If that were an Andy Warhol, that wouldn’t be the spoon.

[SunkenCiv]

Good idea in any workplace — they’re missing a huge opportunity to study primitive humans.