Chinese archaeologists discover 2,400-year-old soup pot

Archaeologists in China have discovered what they believe is a 2,400-year-old pot of soup.

The pot was unearthed near the ancient capital of Xian.

They found the liquid and bones in a sealed bronze-cooking vessel, near the home to the country's famed terracotta warriors.

Tests are being carried out to identify the ingredients. An odourless liquid, believed to be wine, was also found.

The pots were discovered in a tomb being excavated to make way for an extension to the local airport.

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

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

The scientists said the tomb could have held the body of either a member of the land-owning class or a low-ranking military officer, state media report said.