China uncovers 2,400-year-old soup: state media

AFP ^ | 13 Dec 2010 | unattributed

[smokingfrog]

BEIJING — Chinese archaeologists believe they have discovered a 2,400-year-old pot of soup, sealed in a bronze cooking vessel and dug up near the ancient capital of Xian, state press said Monday.

"It's the first discovery of bone soup in Chinese archaeological history," the Global Times 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 (475-221 BC)."

The soup and bones were discovered in a small, sealed bronze vessel in a tomb being excavated to make way for the extension of the airport in Xian, home to the country's famed ancient terracotta warriors, the report said.

The liquid and bones in the vessel had turned green due to the oxidation of the bronze, it said. Scientists were expected to conduct further tests to confirm the liquid was indeed soup and to identify the ingredients.

[HiTech RedNeck]

How do they know that it was intended to be a soup and not, say, a stew or casserole? It’s got to be a dry powder by now.

[Phoebe From China]

Yeah, like your food is totally clear of MSG, RED 40#, and GMOs.

[StonyBurk]

What I discovered was some poor boy was asked by his wife what he wanted for dinner that day-and he decided against rock soup. What else was on the menu for the day?

[Phoebe From China]

It’s said to be a custom to bury soup and wine along with the coffin back then, so the “owner” of the tomb could “enjoy” it. No wonder. The ancient people in power would bury anything, or anyone to their likings.

[HiTech RedNeck]

I guess it’s an antiquated twist on “SOUL” food....

[Phoebe From China]

Yes, kind of.

[wbarmy]

Maybe it is really well aged Kimshi!

[MarkL]

I live a good bowl of soup, but the longest I'll wait for it is about a day... This is ridiculous!

Mark

[Ezekiel]

The liquid and bones in the vessel had turned green due to the oxidation of the bronze, it said. Scientists were expected to conduct further tests to confirm the liquid was indeed soup and to identify the ingredients.

Hmmmph. So much for the childhood memories of "eat your peas - there are starving kids in China". What a scam. Even the kids in China were trying to unload the stuff.

[Hatteras]

You don't have to go on any archeological digs to find 2400 year old soup. Just go to your nearest Food Lion...

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

Why soitonly - a crock pot!

[vigilante2]

You mean to tell me all they left the guy was a bone with his soup? I didn’t know they had Democrats back then!