'Elixir of immortality' is discovered in China for the first time: Bronze pot found in a 2,000-year-old burial tomb

'Elixir of immortality' is discovered in China for the first time: Bronze pot found in a 2,000-year-old burial tomb contains legendary brew used by the rich to try and cheat death

• Around 3.5 litres of the liquid was discovered in a tomb of a wealthy nobel family 
• It contains potassium salts like those mentioned in ancient texts about the elixir 
• The find date to the Han Dynasty and gave off an 'alcoholic aroma' when opened
• It is unclear whether the family ever consumed the potion from the bottle found

 4 March 2019

A fabled 'Elixir of immortality' mentioned throughout ancient Chinese texts has been discovered in a bronze pot hidden inside in a 2,000-year-old burial tomb, experts say.  

China's rich and powerful searched for a magical potion over thousands of years that would bring them external life. 

The mythical quest for the non-existent cure was inevitably unsuccessful and instead yielded a drink which is thought to have spelled like alcohol. 

The container was unearthed in the tomb of the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-8 AD) noble family and contains six pints (3.5 litres) of the concoction. 

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Archaeologists in central China's Henan province said have found a bronze pot which they believe contains a sample of the legendary 'Elixir of Life' referred to in ancient Chinese text

'It is the first time that mythical "immortality medicines" have been found in China,' said Shi Jiazhen, head of the Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology in Luoyang, where the burial site is being excavated.

'The liquid is of significant value for the study of ancient Chinese thoughts on achieving immortality and the evolution of Chinese civilization'.

Archaeologists initially thought that the six pints (3.5 litres) may be liquor as it gave off an alcoholic aroma. 

A large number of colour-painted clay pots, jadeware and bronze artefacts were also unearthed from the tomb, which covers 2260 square fee (210 sq m).

The remains of the tomb's occupant have also been preserved. 

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The liquid, unearthed from the tomb of a noble family in Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-8 AD) tomb contains 3.5 litres of potassium salts that have now been confirmed by lab testing

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A large number of color-painted clay pots, jadeware and bronze artifacts were also unearthed from the tomb, which covers 2260 square feet (210 sqm) as well as the remains of the deceased

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In ancient Chinese text, the 'Elixir of Life' gave mortals eternal life, and caused many a noblemen and emperor to go in search of it for hundreds of years. Archaeologists in central China said have found a bronze pot which contains a liquid they believe to be a sample of it

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Pan Fusheng, an archaeologist on the project, said: 'The tomb provides valuable material for study of the life of Western Han nobles as well as the funeral rituals and customs of the period

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Lab results revealed the potion is largely made up of potassium nitrate and alunite which are not poisonous but are nevertheless used in pesticides, fertilisers and rocket propellants

Pan Fusheng, an archaeologist on the project, added: 'The tomb provides valuable material for study of the life of Western Han nobles as well as the funeral rituals and customs of the period'.

Lab results revealed the potion is largely made up of potassium nitrate and alunite which are not poisonous but are nevertheless used in pesticides, fertilisers and rocket propellants. 

Cases of high ranking officials and emperors drinking toxic elixirs are not uncommon in China. 

The most famous of these being that of the First Emperor of China Qing Shihuang, who sent an expedition to find the legendary island which contained high quantities of the liquid. 

The emperor was known to believe the elixir came in the form of silver mercury and supposedly died from drinking the poison, like many other historical figures.   

WHAT IS THE CHINESE 'ELIXIR OF LIFE'?

Ancient Chinese noblemen and emperors were obsessed with finding the elixir of life to let them cheat death. 

The official history book of China Twenty-Four histories documents various high ranking individuals throughout the dynastic periods who were looking to find the ultimate 'elixir of life'. 

Many of these elixirs contained what we know now to be highly toxic chemicals, like mercury and arsenic. 

The practice of searching for these became popular during the Warring State period and the most famous fan was the First Emperor of China, Qing Shihuang who likely died of mercury poisoning himself. 

He sent search parties far and wide for mercury, which he believed would allow him to live forever and sent one of his officials to the mythical Mount Penglai, or the 'The Immortal Island of Penglai', to find the liquid. 

The search party never returned and mostly likely, never found the liquid either. 

The main burial site of the emperor's vast underground mausoleum in Xi'an, which includes the terracotta soldiers, has not been opened but is said to contain high levels of mercury.  

Historical documents describing his tomb refers to the presence of mercury 'oceans' and 'lakes' beneath the burial mound.