Archaeologists have unearthed a bronze kettle containing liquor from a Qin Dynasty tomb, dating back more than 2,000 years in Shaanxi province. Let's take a look.

The kettle is a sacrificial vessel. It was among 260 items unearthed from a graveyard of commoners' tombs from the Qin Dynasty which dates from 221 to 207 BC. Most of the relics were for worshipping rituals.

ZHANG YANGLIZHENG, ASSISTANT RESEARCHER SHAANXI PROVINCIAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE "The opening of the kettle is sealed with natural fibers. 300 milliliters of liquor is found in the kettle. The liquor is a transparent milky white substance. Technological test indicates it is made using fermentation techniques, as it is composed of glutamic acid substances.

Archaeologists say it is not known whether the wine is still drinkable or not, and it is only being used for archaeological research. The Chinese have always considered bronze an auspicious metal, symbolizing social status and wealth. Many believed that bronze brings them luck. The technology of bronze production reached its full maturity during the second half of the Zhou Dynasty dating from 1050 to 771 BC, when Chinese artisans mastered casting, smelting, welding, riveting and polishing. Researchers need to further study the liquor to better understand the brewing technology and wine drinking culture in Xianyang, the ancient capital of the Qin Dynasty.

ZHANG YANGLIZHENG, ASSISTANT RESEARCHER SHAANXI PROVINCIAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE "We also discovered a bronze tripod along the side of the bronze kettle. It is used to place food during the sacrifice process. They were left underground thereafter."

Also discovered in the tombs was a bronze sword 60-centimeters long. The sword has octahedrons in the middle, which increases the weapon's effectiveness. There are also breaches on the edge of the sword, suggesting it was used in war. Researchers are trying to build up a picture of life in the capital of China's first empire by studying the relics.