Bronze Bottle in 2,300-Year-Old Qin Tomb Reveals Ancient Beer

A bronze bottle found in tomb M39 near the Shanjiabao cemetery, about 1.5 km from the Great Wall of Qin, preserved residues of a 2,300-year-old beer. Molecular analysis detected malted grains and yeasts, suggesting a fermented beverage used in funerary rituals; the liquid contained more than 2,400 compounds and was thicker than modern beer, akin to a fermented porridge, offering insights into Qin-era fermentation techniques and cereal use.