A team of Chinese archaeologists have unearthed an ancient cooking vessel which contained a number of cow bones.
This discovery was made on December 13 in Henan Province in central China where the Chinese civilisation is thought to have originated.
A member of the archaeological team said the container, called 'ding', dated back about 2,300 years to the Kingdom of Chu.
Could this be the oldest beef stew? Archaeologists discover 2,300-year-old cooking pot containing cow bones
Clay vessel dating to Chu Kingdom was found in an ancient tomb in China
It contained a number of well-preserved bones from the forelegs of cows
Experts said the bones could have been cooked. Further analysis is needed
By Tracy You For Mailonline
16 December 2016
A team of Chinese archaeologists have unearthed an ancient cooking vessel which contained a number of cow bones.
This discovery was made on December 13 in Henan Province in central China where the Chinese civilisation is thought to have originated.
A member of the archaeological team said the container, called 'ding', dated back about 2,300 years to the Kingdom of Chu.
Archaeologists from Henan, China, have unearthed an ancient cooking vessel with cow bones
The bones could have been cooked, but further analysis is needed, according to experts
The remains were found inside an ancient Chinese cooking vessel dating to the Chu Kingdom
Wu Zhijiang, a team leader from Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, told MailOnline that the clay vessel had been discovered in an ancient tomb chamber near the city of Xinyang.
Now a modern city of around 6.1 million residents, Xinyang was once a capital of Chu, which ruled the central and eastern China from 1,100BC to 223BC.
Mr Wu said after his team excavated the vessel, they immediately sent it to the laboratory and informed his colleagues who specialised in analysing animal bones.
The vessel was discovered near the city of Xinyang, once a capital of Chu (1,100BC to 223BC)
The clay vessel was found in the tomb chamber of an aristocrat, together with a number of other containers
Mr Wu said after his team excavated the vessel, they immediately sent it to the laboratory
The experts were able to identify that the bones had come from the forelegs of cows.
The ancient 'ding' had been found in the tomb chamber of an aristocrat, together with a number of other clay containers.
Pictures of the unearthed cauldron, filled with muddy water, have drawn creative comments from Chinese media, with many calling the discovery 'a pot of delicious ancient beef soup'.
Archaeologists who specialise in analysing animal bones were called to help with the project
Experts from Henan were able to identify that the bones had come from the forelegs of cows
Mr Wu said because the condition of the tomb chamber was poor, they transported the ding, together with the bones and muddy water inside, to the laboratory before they took the pictures.
Mr Wu said it was possible that the pot had been used to contain dishes and soup prepared for the dead; however, it could also have been used to carry the slaughtered animals during the burial ceremony.
Further analysis is due to be carried out to identify whether or not the pot had been used on fire.
THE HISTORY OF CHINESE DING
Ding, an ancient Chinese cooking container, came in different shapes and sizes
Ding is thought to have been used as a cooking vessel by Chinese people as early as around 3,000BC.
The oldest dings were made with clay.
The containers, ranged in different sizes, were later made with bronze and used as ceremonial sacrifice pots.
In addition, ancient Chinese aristocrats used ding as a symbol of power.
The most famous ding discovered so far is Houmuwu ding.
The 'king of the cauldron', made with bronze, weighs a whopping 1,836lbs and stands 4ft 4in high.
Dating to the Shang Dynasty (13th century BC-11th century BC), the Houmuwu ding is on display at the National Museum of China in Beijing.
Read more: Archaeologists discover 2,300-year-old cooking pot containing cow bones | Daily Mail Online
This discovery was made on December 13 in Henan Province in central China where the Chinese civilisation is thought to have originated.
A member of the archaeological team said the container, called 'ding', dated back about 2,300 years to the Kingdom of Chu.
Could this be the oldest beef stew? Archaeologists discover 2,300-year-old cooking pot containing cow bones
Clay vessel dating to Chu Kingdom was found in an ancient tomb in China
It contained a number of well-preserved bones from the forelegs of cows
Experts said the bones could have been cooked. Further analysis is needed
By Tracy You For Mailonline
16 December 2016
A team of Chinese archaeologists have unearthed an ancient cooking vessel which contained a number of cow bones.
This discovery was made on December 13 in Henan Province in central China where the Chinese civilisation is thought to have originated.
A member of the archaeological team said the container, called 'ding', dated back about 2,300 years to the Kingdom of Chu.
Archaeologists from Henan, China, have unearthed an ancient cooking vessel with cow bones
The bones could have been cooked, but further analysis is needed, according to experts
The remains were found inside an ancient Chinese cooking vessel dating to the Chu Kingdom
Wu Zhijiang, a team leader from Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, told MailOnline that the clay vessel had been discovered in an ancient tomb chamber near the city of Xinyang.
Now a modern city of around 6.1 million residents, Xinyang was once a capital of Chu, which ruled the central and eastern China from 1,100BC to 223BC.
Mr Wu said after his team excavated the vessel, they immediately sent it to the laboratory and informed his colleagues who specialised in analysing animal bones.
The vessel was discovered near the city of Xinyang, once a capital of Chu (1,100BC to 223BC)
The clay vessel was found in the tomb chamber of an aristocrat, together with a number of other containers
Mr Wu said after his team excavated the vessel, they immediately sent it to the laboratory
The experts were able to identify that the bones had come from the forelegs of cows.
The ancient 'ding' had been found in the tomb chamber of an aristocrat, together with a number of other clay containers.
Pictures of the unearthed cauldron, filled with muddy water, have drawn creative comments from Chinese media, with many calling the discovery 'a pot of delicious ancient beef soup'.
Archaeologists who specialise in analysing animal bones were called to help with the project
Experts from Henan were able to identify that the bones had come from the forelegs of cows
Mr Wu said because the condition of the tomb chamber was poor, they transported the ding, together with the bones and muddy water inside, to the laboratory before they took the pictures.
Mr Wu said it was possible that the pot had been used to contain dishes and soup prepared for the dead; however, it could also have been used to carry the slaughtered animals during the burial ceremony.
Further analysis is due to be carried out to identify whether or not the pot had been used on fire.
THE HISTORY OF CHINESE DING
Ding, an ancient Chinese cooking container, came in different shapes and sizes
Ding is thought to have been used as a cooking vessel by Chinese people as early as around 3,000BC.
The oldest dings were made with clay.
The containers, ranged in different sizes, were later made with bronze and used as ceremonial sacrifice pots.
In addition, ancient Chinese aristocrats used ding as a symbol of power.
The most famous ding discovered so far is Houmuwu ding.
The 'king of the cauldron', made with bronze, weighs a whopping 1,836lbs and stands 4ft 4in high.
Dating to the Shang Dynasty (13th century BC-11th century BC), the Houmuwu ding is on display at the National Museum of China in Beijing.
Read more: Archaeologists discover 2,300-year-old cooking pot containing cow bones | Daily Mail Online
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