A much earlier history of fermented beverages in China has long been hypothesized based on the shapes and styles of Neolithic pottery vessels, which are similar to the magnificent Shang Dynasty bronze vessels. The vessels were used to present and store fermented beverages.

McGovern and his Chinese collaborators concentrated their research on pottery from the Neolithic village of Jiahu, because it is some of the earliest known pottery in China.

The Chinese researchers, led by Zhang Juzhong, a professor from the University of Science and Technology of China, had carried out archaeological research around the site for decades.

The Jiahu area was already famous for yielding some of the earliest musical instruments and domesticated rice, as well as possibly the earliest Chinese pictographic writing.

Zhang and his colleagues found the pottery articles, one of the many discoveries they made that have rewritten the orthodox perspectives of China's early history.

McGovern took the lead in the chemical analyses of the residue elements absorbed in the pottery.

Through a variety of chemical methods including gas and liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry and infrared spectrometry - the so-called "finger-print compounds" were identified, including those for hawthorn fruit or wild grape, beeswax associated with honey and rice.

The most straightforward interpretation of the data, according to researchers, is that the Jiahu vessels contained a consistently processed beverage made from rice, honey and a fruit.

Page:

1

2

All rights reserved. Reproduction of text for non-commercial purposes is permitted provided that both the source and author are acknowledged and a notifying email is sent to us.