Ancient Sealed Vessel Yields Remarkably Preserved 2,200-Year-Old Grain Alcohol in China

Archaeologists working at the Shanjiabao cemetery in China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region have recovered an exceptionally well-preserved ancient alcoholic beverage sealed within a bronze vessel for more than two millennia. The discovery, dated to the Warring States period (475-221 B.C.), contained approximately 3,740 milliliters of liquid—nearly a gallon—making it one of the largest volumes of ancient fermented drink ever recovered from that era. The findings were published in the June issue of the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.

Ruru Chen, a researcher at Northwest University’s School of Cultural Heritage in Xi’an, noted that the preservation quality was extraordinary given the artifact’s age. The liquid appeared clear with a light blue-green hue, showed no noticeable odor, and contained only minimal sediment at its base. The bronze container featured a distinctive “garlic-shaped mouth,” a design commonly employed by the Qin people for storing alcoholic beverages.

Through comprehensive analysis involving organic chemistry, metabolomics, starch grain examination, and microscopic investigation, researchers identified the beverage as a non-distilled grain alcohol brewed primarily from broomcorn millet, supplemented with smaller quantities of wheat and barley. Chemical testing revealed high concentrations of lactic and oxalic acids alongside numerous organic compounds consistent with ancient cereal-based fermentation techniques. The findings suggest production methods that predate distilled spirits by centuries.

Scientists attribute the liquid’s exceptional preservation to multiple factors, including the arid local climate, the bronze vessel’s composition, its sealing methodology, and favorable burial conditions. Researchers plan future investigations to better understand the preservation mechanisms while encouraging broader scholarly interest in ancient Chinese brewing traditions and fermented beverage production.