2,300-Year-Old Wine Vessel Unearthed Near the Qin Great Wall Sheds Light on Ancient Brewing

Archaeologists excavating the Shanjiabao cemetery, about 2 km from the Qin-era Great Wall in Guyuan, Gansu, uncovered a well-preserved bronze wine jar that remained sealed for more than two millennia. The find was reported in a study published in the June issue of *Journal of Archaeological Science*. Researchers noted that the vessel’s intact condition allowed direct analysis of its contents and manufacturing residues.

South China Morning Post

The wall segment where the jar was found belongs to the Qin Great Wall constructed between 325 BC and 251 BC, predating the more famous Ming-era wall. During the Warring States period, soldiers and their families inhabited forts, castles, and outposts along the 170 km stretch, creating a community where food and drink production were essential to daily life.

South China Morning Post

Chemical analysis of the vessel’s interior identified cereal grains and fermentation markers consistent with wine-making practices. The study’s lead author, Chen Ruru—a PhD candidate at Northwest University— explained that the results clarify how the Qin people selected cereals, processed them, and controlled fermentation, offering a concrete reconstruction of early Chinese brewing technology.

South China Morning Post

The discovery provides the first direct material evidence of large-scale wine production linked to a defensive frontier. It enriches understanding of how agricultural surplus supported military outposts and suggests that sophisticated brewing was already integrated into Qin society. Scholars anticipate that the methodology applied to this jar will be used on other frontier sites, potentially revising timelines for the development of Chinese alcoholic beverages.

South China Morning Post

• “This study provides a clear understanding of the cereals utilisation and brewing techniques of the Qin people, contributing to the reconstruction of ancient Chinese brewing technology and also refining the development process,” — Chen Ruru, a Northwest University PhD candidate and first author of the study

South China Morning Post