Archaeologists in China have discovered a bronze vessel containing an alcoholic drink that has remained sealed inside a Qin dynasty tomb for around 2,200 years, offering researchers a rare direct look at ancient Chinese brewing practices. The find, detailed in the June issue of the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, is notable both for its age and for the unusually large quantity of liquid preserved, giving experts fresh material to study early alcohol production methods.

The vessel was recovered from a tomb at the Shanjiabao cemetery in China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, dating to the Warring States period (475–221 BC), a time of conflict between rival kingdoms before the country's first unification. The alcohol found inside amounted to nearly a gallon, a substantial volume that researchers say could shed further light on the ingredients and techniques used to produce drinks in ancient China.