2,300-Year-Old Qin Beer Survives in Sealed Bronze Bottle, Revealing Ancient Brewing
Archaeologists excavating Tomb M39 at the Shanjiabao cemetery near the Qin Great Wall found a sealed bronze bottle containing what appears to be beer dating 2,300–2,800 years old; chemical analysis revealed more than 2,400 organic compounds and thousands of yeast cells, suggesting a sophisticated beer recipe using proso millet, wheat or barley, and flavoring ingredients, produced by Qin brewers; the beverage was preserved by a double-layer sealing method, indicating advanced preservation as well as brewing accessible to non-elites.