大千世界:中國考古發現二千四百年前排骨湯

Chinese archaeologists believe they have discovered a 2,400-year-old pot of soup, sealed in a bronze cooking vessel and dug up near the ancient capital of Xian, state press said yesterday.

國家新聞昨日報導，中國考古學家在古都西安發現一鍋兩千四百年前，放在青銅製烹煮器具的湯。

"It's the first discovery of bone soup in Chinese archaeological history," the Global Times quoted Liu Daiyun of the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology as saying.

《環球時報》引述陝西省考古研究所的劉呆運表示，“這是中國考古史上首次發現骨湯。”

"The discovery will play an important role in studying the eating habits and culture of the Warring States Period (475-221 BC)."

“這項發現將有助於瞭解戰國時代（西元前四百七十五到二百二十一年）的飲食習慣與文化。”

The soup and bones were discovered in a small, sealed bronze vessel in a tomb being excavated to make way for the extension of the airport in Xian, home to the country's famed ancient terracotta warriors, the report said.

報導表示，這鍋湯與骨頭髮現於一座墓穴被封住的青銅製容器中。該墓穴是因爲西安機場擴建工程開挖而被發現。西安就是以發現兵馬俑而著稱。

The liquid and bones in the vessel had turned green due to the oxidation of the bronze, it said. Scientists were expected to conduct further tests to confirm the liquid was indeed soup and to identify the ingredients.

報導說，內部液體與骨頭因爲銅鏽而變綠色。科學家將進一步研究，確定這個液體的確爲湯，並找出製作湯的原料。

Archaeologists also dug up another bronze pot that contained an odorless liquid, believed to be wine, in the tomb, which could belong to either a member of the land- owning class or a military officer, the report said.

考古學家也自墓穴挖出另一具裝過無味液體的青銅罐子，他們認爲可能是放在墳墓裏的酒。該墳墓曾屬於地主級人物，或者軍官。

Xian, a city that served as China's ancient capital for over 1,100 years, is famed for the terracotta army at the burial site of Qin Shihuang, who presided over the unification of China in 221 BC and declared himself the first emperor.

西安曾經長達一千一百年爲中國首都，因秦始皇於該處埋了兵馬俑而著名。秦始皇於西元前二百二十一年統一中國，並自稱皇帝。

詞彙點津：

archaeologist 考古學家

archaeological 考古的

dig up 挖掘

excavate 挖掘

terracotta warriors 兵馬俑

oxidation 氧化

unification 統一