Archaeologists find 2,000 year-old beef portion in ancient tomb in northwest China

New Straits Times ^ | September 29, 2012 | Bernama

[SunkenCiv]

Archaeologists said a black substance found in an ancient tomb in northwest China's Shaanxi province is a 2,000-year-old portion of beef.

Scientists arrived at the conclusion after months of analysis confirmed the substance's makeup, according to Hu Songmei, a paleontologist from the provincial archaeological institute.

Xinhua news agency reports that according to Hu, the beef -- most of which had been carbonised -- is the earliest beef product discovered in China.

The beef was discovered two years ago in a bronze pot placed in a tomb believed to date back to the Warring States Period (475 B.C. -- 221 B.C.), said Hu.

The tomb was discovered during a excavation conducted by the institute from 2009 to 2010 in Wanli village in the provincial capital of Xi'an.

"The beef did not shrink, which proves that it had been dried before being put into the pot," said Hu.

[SunkenCiv]

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This is according to Hu. To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list.

[faithhopecharity]

Sounds very much like the last breakfast steak I had at the local diner

[count-your-change]

I got older beef than that in the bottom of my freezer.

[Kharis13]

The most amazing part of this find was right next to the 2000 year-old beef-—a 2000 year-old bottle of A.1.

[I see my hands]

Hold the pickles, hold the lettuce, special orders don't upset us.

[Happy Rain]

Aging is nature's tenderizer (ask any buzzard) but golly gee whizz!

The poor gardener who lost his head because he could not abide the rotting pheasant Pilot Blackthorne had hanging for a future supper would be extra appalled.

[Rapscallion]

Chili was invented by the ancient Egyptians?

[JimmyMc]

You bring the A1, I’ll start the grill.

[Raycpa]

[central_va]

My money would have been on it being canine.

[Raycpa]

[SoftwareEngineer]

That was from the local takeout restaurant in Xi’an in 2 AD.

In fact next to it they found BOTH a fortune cookie (”This meat last you a long time”) and a papyrus receipt.

It said “#69, Beef with Brocolli, extra spicy, white rice”

[bigheadfred]

it had been dried before

The Chinese invented beef jerky.

[a fool in paradise]

[Happy Rain]

Chili seasoning makes rotted meat palatable and even tastier than fresh flesh if prepared correctly.

Thousand year old eggs are a delicacie in China.

Except for a Polar Bear's liver, we can eat any meat from land sea or air as long as we have the natural immunity to common filth and bacteria unpampered at birth humans enjoy.

[blueunicorn6]

I had all my money on General Tso’s Chicken.

[JoeProBono]

[taildragger]

Their is a monster in law Meat Loaf joke just waiting to emerge here....

[SERKIT]

Mmmmm....carbonized beef....arghhhh.....