2,200-year-old alcohol found sealed inside ancient tomb and there's nearly a gallon of it

Researchers in China recently uncovered a very unusual find: a large bottle containing an alcoholic drink buried for more than 2,200 years.The ancient alcohol was found sealed in a bronze vessel in a Qin tomb at the Shanjiabao cemetery in China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.The findings were published in the June issue of the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.The tomb dates to the Warring States period (475-221 B.C.), a turbulent era of rival kingdoms before China's first unification.ARCHAEOLOGISTS UNCOVER FREEZE-DRIED POTATOES OLDER THAN THE US IN 'EXCELLENT' CONDITIONThe preserved liquid was determined to be an ancient cereal-based alcoholic beverage, a fermented grain drink sometimes loosely described as "beer."Unlike other recent discoveries in which archaeologists found only residue from ancient drinks, the bottle contained an impressive 3,740 milliliters, or 3.74 liters, of preserved liquid.Archaeologists in China uncovered more than 3.7 liters of an ancient cereal-based alcoholic beverage sealed inside a bronze vessel for over 2,200 years.

(Ruru Chen)The researchers were surprised when they encountered the liquid, said Ruru Chen, a researcher at Northwest University's School of Cultural Heritage in Xi'an, China."What surprised us even more was the very large volume and the exceptional state of preservation," Chen told Fox News Digital.SECRET CACHE OF 130-YEAR-OLD WINE UNCOVERED BENEATH MEDIEVAL CASTLE CHAPEL FLOOR"Considering that this sample dates to the Warring States period, such a good level of preservation is extremely rare."There was "no noticeable odor and a small amount of sediment at the bottom," she added, and the liquid "appeared clear and light blue-green."Researchers say the exceptionally well-preserved liquid dates to the Warring States period, making it an exceptionally rare discovery.(Ruru Chen)It was found in a bronze bottle with a "garlic-shaped mouth," which Chen said was commonly used by the Qin people to hold alcoholic bevera...