We often see on TV that archaeologists will clean up the cultural relics with a small brush after opening the ancient tomb. They should be very careful in the process for fear of being damaged, but there is one thing that even archaeologists dare not touch, and that is eggs. Why can't this common food be taken directly?
Although eggs are common things in our daily life, they are very rare in ancient tombs. In Ma 'anshan Village, Shuanglu Town, Fengdu County, 23 ancient tombs of the Han Dynasty were discovered. Strangely, they were completely displayed in front of people without being excavated by exploration teams for a long time.
It's not all kinds of gold, silver and jewels that surprise experts, but eggs from more than 2, years ago are still preserved in the tomb. Some people reach out to touch them, only to find that the shell of the eggs is very fragile, and the yolk and egg white inside are already empty, and they are broken at once, so they can only take the fragments back to re-study the splicing.
But not all eggs are so fragile. In 1974, an ancient egg was found in the tomb of the Western Zhou Dynasty. This time it was a whole jar. The difference from the previous one is that the egg is very hard, just like a stone. Even if it is touched, it will not crack.
Scientists were also curious, so they shipped them back. Some people asked if these eggs had any research value. Needless to say, modern science and technology are more and more developed, and DNA can be extracted from eggs, and perhaps the appearance of ancient chickens can be restored, which has great research value.
Friends who are interested in seeing ancient eggs can visit Nanjing Museum, where the basket of eggs from the Western Zhou Dynasty is still there!
A few years ago, in an ancient tomb in Shangxing Town, Liyang, Jiangsu Province, the archaeological team found several clay pots. After carefully removing the lid of the clay pot, they accidentally found a clay pot of earth eggs, and the number found this time was quite large, almost more than 2. But when the archaeological team saw that it was an egg, they quickly closed the broken lid. Why?
They are not excited or happy, but feel that this clay pot is a bit tricky, because in archaeology, they know that the most feared thing in ancient tombs is to find eggs. But for us, eggs are so delicious, why are archaeologists most afraid of touching eggs? We will mention it below, and now let's talk about why it is a double discovery.
Throughout the world, many kinds of artifacts have been found in archaeology, but very few foods have been found, because it is difficult to keep food for more than a thousand years. Even if it is well preserved in a closed condition, the ancient tomb has been opened and will soon disappear or change rapidly. In particular, foods such as eggs are very rare in archaeological excavations, but once encountered, it will become a problem for archaeological teams, increasing the difficulty coefficient of excavation. However, in the archaeological study of mound tombs in Jiangsu Province, eggs from four clay pots were discovered continuously for the first time. These eggs with a history of more than 2, years were later sent to Nanjing Museum, Zhenjiang Museum, Jurong Museum and Nanjing Agricultural University Museum respectively.
This time, another clay pot egg was found. Together with the previous findings, a total of 5 clay pot eggs were unearthed, which is a record for the first time. To understand how rare these eggs are, I will compare them with an archaeology abroad, or everyone will know a thing or two.
In October, 219, Israeli archaeologists were doing archaeological work near harish. Publicity around the world revealed that an egg was found thousands of years ago. Regarding the value of this egg, local experts said that it is very rare to find pieces of eggs in global archaeology. This time, they were lucky to find that "a complete egg is really rare", and they could feel his pride and excitement between the lines. < P > Because for them, finding an egg thousands of years ago, even if there is a crack in this egg, is a very important discovery. Even they used the adjective amazing. It was amazing to see a thousand-year-old Israeli egg found, which was described by amazing and rare words.
But how would they feel if they knew that five clay pots had been excavated in China, and there were more than 2 eggs in the fifth clay pot, which was 2,5 years ago now? This incident also witnessed the value of the eggs in this clay pot from the side, which is immeasurable and incalculable.
following the above, why did the archaeologists immediately cover the eggs in this clay pot? Is it a terrible thing to find eggs in the ancient tomb?
Let's talk about the process of unearthing this nest of eggs. At that time, the mound tombs in the Spring and Autumn Period were excavated in Liyang, Jiangsu Province. Experts kept digging for a long time, and found that these tombs were not as large as the cultural relics unearthed in the tomb of princes, but they could reflect what people's lives were like at that time.
In an archaeology, this jar of earth eggs was accidentally unearthed in a place called Ziwu Dun. At that time, when they carefully excavated the ancient tomb, they found that there were a large number of jars and kettles with printed hard pottery, cups and kettles of primitive celadon, three-legged plates of muddy gray pottery, as well as containers, cookers and food containers.
As usual, the archaeologists will open the crock to see if there are any other items in it. Unexpectedly, they found a jar full of eggs. The eggs unearthed this time, in appearance, are about the same size as the grass eggs now. When they were first discovered, the color of the eggshells was slightly cyan. According to the speculation of the archaeological team, they were probably wild eggs picked up outdoors by the ancestors of Jiangsu at that time, but it is not excluded that they are farmed domestic eggs.
This jar of eggs has been decomposed for 2,5 years. However, because the eggshell is calcium, it is relatively stable and protected by clay pots, so it is preserved. To be exact, it is only 2,5 young "eggshells". However, it is this jar of egg shells that makes the archaeological team feel very embarrassed and tricky. According to the introduction, the archaeological team is afraid of encountering eggs for several reasons:
First, because the precious cultural relics or funerary objects buried in ancient tombs or outdoor sites have been eroded for a long time, they are very fragile. If there are eggs buried for more than 1 years in the process of archaeology, we must be particularly cautious and focused, because if we don't pay attention, the eggs may break at the touch and become piles of pieces. And many ancient objects, want to use modern technology to completely restore. In fact, the difficulty is not small, especially if the egg is broken and there is only a pile of egg shells, it will take experts a long time to repair it carefully.
For example, just like the Israeli archaeological team mentioned above, they met the egg that was thousands of years ago. Although they were very cautious and careful, they still dug it out and needed to be reassembled and treated. In an archaeological process in China, the archaeological team didn't know it was an ancient egg at that time. When it was swept lightly with a broom, the egg was broken, and it could only be picked up slowly and put together again. But it was such a job.
second, apart from being cautious and spending time on recovery, more importantly, the eggs encountered by the archaeological team are also worried about another thing, because although the shell of the eggs buried for more than 2, years is intact, the inside is already empty, but no one can guarantee that there will be any bacteria in them. Because of the existence of egg shells, it is easy to leave a large number of bacteria in them. If you encounter an ancient tomb and space with poor ventilation, the egg shells,
Third, even if the eggs are intact and not broken, it is very difficult to ensure that the eggs that were born 2, years ago are finally sent to the museum safely, sealed and kept by advanced technology, because this process requires a large number of people to be very cautious and meticulous in transshipment, and special instruments and tools are also needed when excavating the earth.
More importantly, as cultural relics, these eggs are awkward in identity, because they are neither like pottery and bronze wares, nor ancient clothes and ornaments. Because of their special age and shape, as well as the inscriptions and records inside, they can bring certain historical and cultural reference value to future generations. Although eggs have gone through thousands of years, they are similar to modern eggs.
So are these ancient eggs chicken ribs?
The ancient eggs over two thousand years ago are actually rare and precious cultural relics. They provide physical basis and sufficient information for us to study the history and development of ancient diet now. Many cans of ancient eggs were unearthed in China, which revealed a lot of information about people's diet and life in the Warring States period.
According to current speculation, those who could afford eggs in ancient times were people with certain status and status, because eggs were also a luxury in ancient times, and because eggs were delicious, some people liked eggs very much when they were alive. So after his death, his family will put some eggs in the ancient tomb, mainly to let him continue to have eggs to eat in another world.
According to domestic archaeology, eggs can be used as funerary objects in the Spring and Autumn Period, which has another meaning, that is, the tomb owner has certain economic strength. It is also a symbol of status and identity, because there are certain rules and etiquette in ancient tombs, and you can't just put whatever you want.
The earliest ancient egg cultural relic found in China was found in a Western Zhou Dynasty tomb 28 years ago. When the egg was laid, it was fortunately placed in a pottery jar. When the archaeologist found this egg, he was surprised to find that it could be preserved so completely, which was really commendable. And this egg is also the oldest and best preserved ancient egg in existence.
The value and significance of antique eggs
Domestication of poultry provided all kinds of eggs, meat and other foods for ancient ancestors, and provided high-quality protein. According to the relevant historical data, the domestication history of poultry has been more than 4 years. According to previous speculation, eggs and poultry were cultivated in large quantities in China before 18, forming a certain scale and being widely eaten.
China cuisine is also world-famous. Eggs are an indispensable food in China diet. The discovery of these eggs 2,5 years ago overthrew the speculation of experts at that time, and pushed the history of widely using eggs in China to more than 1, years, which proves the long history of Chinese culture.
Summary:
It is really rare that ancient eggs can be preserved and unearthed again after 25 years. These discoveries are of great significance, because these ancient eggs are rich in meaning and strongly prove the unique history and culture of Chinese civilization. Compared with the handed down bronzes and paintings and artworks found in archaeology, it pays attention to artistic value and collection value. The excavation of ancient eggs is of great value for studying the life and diet development of the ancients today, and it is also an important witness of the development history of mankind. Therefore, the earth eggs in these ancient tombs 2,5 years ago cannot be measured by money, and they are priceless treasures of mankind.
Some time ago, at the site of Golden Bay in Chishui River, Guizhou Province, people discovered the remains of a Han minority settlement 2, years ago. After the archaeologists arrived, they unearthed many clay pots and animal bones. What surprised the archaeologists most was that they found an egg more than 2, years ago.
This egg was slightly swept by their archaeological brush, and it broke a small corner, because after years of changes, all the yolk and egg white in it disappeared, leaving only a thin layer of fragile eggshell. After the egg was destroyed, archaeologists immediately stopped their work and they protected the place.
After discussion, they originally planned to use the traditional gypsum wrapping method, but due to various reasons, they finally gave up this method and adopted a very strange and mysterious method to extract the egg and put it into the research room to analyze the ingredients.
At this time, the question comes. What changes and gains can be brought to us after extracting the ingredients of this egg? The actual value
I think, in a practical sense, it is no good to study the composition of this egg, because the year 2 includes countless dynasties for us, and our recorded history is almost in this year 2.
However, it is a trivial fragment for the evolution of living things. It takes millions of years for a living thing to take shape. The time change in 2 is essentially the same except for some slight differences in body shape.
not to mention whether the genes of chickens before 2 can be extracted from these calcium carbonate shells, even if they are extracted, it is another question whether the genes of chickens before 2 can be reflected at that time. Even if the genes of chickens before 2 are transferred to modern chickens, what is the use? Maybe the chicken in those days was not as delicious as the modern chicken, and its size was not as big as that of the chicken now, so for us ordinary people, this egg is of no value. Research value < P > But for archaeologists, the significance is different, because for them, the practical significance is not very important, the most important thing is knowledge and research significance.
Archaeologists can study the genes of chickens before and their living conditions through eggs, and then compare them with modern chickens to understand the changes of chickens in the past 2 years, and then analyze what caused these differences. This is what archaeologists do. In their eyes, knowledge represents everything.
Therefore, the value of this egg 2 years ago should be viewed from two aspects. For example, in my layman's view, this ancient egg is totally worthless. If I see it, I may be tempted to crush it, but it is different for archaeologists. This can provide them with a lot of knowledge, and even make up some historical faults by comparing it with other knowledge. It is of great significance. It is not rigorous enough to say that this egg is an egg, because it only looks like the size and appearance of eggs we see in our lives, and there are large bones near the "egg". Without the analysis of experts, the final result can not be asserted that this is an egg.
This archaeological event originated from the fact that the Zunyi Archaeological Team in Guizhou discovered a large number of pottery pots and a few suspected animal bones when excavating the Han Dynasty tombs in Golden Bay on the Chishui River in Tucheng Town, Xishui County, and found one during the excavation.