Chinese Archaeologists Unearth 2,000 Year Old Wine from Han Dynasty Tomb

Archaeologists were working on an excavation site in Luoyang, Henan when they unearthed a jar containing what appeared to be 2,000-year-old Chinese wine.

Scientists at the excavation site discovered a bronze-colored jar from the Western Han Dynasty tomb containing 3.5 liters of clear yellow liquid. As soon as the archaeologists opened the lid, the contents gave off a rich aroma of alcohol, according to Xinhua News Agency.

“It smells like wine,” said the head of Luoyang’s Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology.

Alcoholic beverages made from fermented rice and sorghum grains were considered traditional drinks in ancient China, according to Shanghaiist.

And it’s not just this one; scientists have also unearthed similar wines dating back from the Western Han Dynasty, which spanned from 202 BC to 8 AD, in other excavation sites.

Most of them were contained inside elaborate bronze vessels.

Images via Xinhua

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