In 2024, archaeologistsarchaeologists/ˌɑːrkiˈɒlədʒɪsts/L2考古学家people who study ancient cultures by digging up and examining objects, buildings, and other remains from the past. discovereddiscovered/dɪˈskʌvərd/L2发现to find something for the first time or to learn something that was not known before. a bronze pot at a cemetery in Ningxia, China, near the Qin Great Wall. This wall dates back over 2,300 years. Inside the pot, scientists found a liquid that turned out to be ancientancient/ˈeɪnʃənt/L2古代的very old, from a long time ago. wine, made from millet, wheat, and barley. The pot was sealed with cloth and clay to keep the liquid safe. This makes it one of the oldest wines ever found in China.
The wine dates back to the Warring States period of the Qin people. At that time, soldiers and their families lived in forts and castles along the Great Wall. A Qin soldier probably loved this wine very much. When he died, his family sealed his favorite bronze wine pot and placed it in his tomb. This tradition shows how much the Qin people valued this drink.
The pot used a double-layer sealing techniquetechnique/tekˈniːk/L2技术；方法a special way of doing something, especially one that involves skill or knowledge. with an inner textile lining and an outer coating of organic clay. This seal kept the wine largely intactintact/ɪnˈtækt/L2完整的；未受损的not damaged or broken; complete and in good condition. for over 2,000 years. "It is currently the most well-preserved and information-rich wine relic from the period of the Qin state," said Wang Xiaoyang, the head of the project. As a result, this discovery helps scientists understand the brewing techniques of the Qin people and fills an archaeological gap in the study of ancientancient/ˈeɪnʃənt/L2古代的very old, from a long time ago. winemaking in China.
