Archaeologists discover remnants of 8,000-yr-old alcohol in China

Archaeologists said that they had found the earliest evidence of Chinese people using monascus to make alcohol in 8,000-year-old clay pots unearthed in central China. This was reported by The Xinhua News Agency.

An ancient tomb found in the Peiligang cultural site in Xinzheng, central China's Henan Province. Photo by Xinhua.

A piece of pottery found in the Peiligang cultural site in Xinzheng, central China's Henan Province.  Photo by Xinhua.

"A large amount of monascus hypha and cleistothecia, together with fermented starch grains from rice, were detected in remnants of two clay pots found in the Peiligang cultural site in Henan Province", – said Li Yongqiang, an assistant researcher with the Institute of Archaeology under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

A clay pot found in the Peiligang cultural site in Xinzheng, central China's Henan Province. Photo by Xinhua.

"The discovery indicates that the pots were once used for brewing and storing alcohol", – Li said.

A piece of pottery found in the Peiligang cultural site in Xinzheng, central China's Henan Province.  Photo by Xinhua.

Peiligang is one of the earliest village ruins in China, dating back about 8,000 years. It provides important evidence for studies on the origin and development of agriculture, pottery making, the textile industry as well as alcohol making techniques in ancient times.

A clay pots found in the Peiligang cultural site in Xinzheng, central China's Henan Province. Photo by  Xinhua.