江苏挖掘出一坛2500年前的鸡蛋 Experts discover eggs in 2,500-year-old tomb in Jiangsu

Chinese archaeologists have found a pot(坛 tán) of eggs(鸡蛋 jīdàn) in a tomb(墓 mù) that can be dated back to 2,500 years ago in Changzhou, Jiangsu province.

According to a report by jschina.com.cn, the eggs were found in a clay pot along with other pottery containers(容器 róngqì), cookers and plates in a mound tomb in Shangyang Village.

A pot of eggs was found in a tomb in Shangyang Village, Liyang, Jiangsu province on March 24, 2019. [Photo: jschina.com.cn]

Different from similar excavations(挖掘 wājué) earlier, the eggs unearthed this time were clearly separated from each other, making them easier for experts to clean, according to Lin Liugen, head of the Institute of Archaeology Nanjing Museum.

The pot of eggs will now be put in a cabinet with a stable temperature and humidity for further study.

It is not clear at present if the eggs were from domestic chickens(家鸡 jiā jī) or pheasants(野鸡 yějī).

Archaeologists noted that cereal products could have been contained in other potteries but they perished(腐烂 fǔlàn) over time.

重点词汇 Key word:

前

• <名词 n.> front
  E.g. Dàlóu qián yǒu gè pēnshuǐchí.
  大楼前有个喷水池。
  There is a fountain in front of the building.

• <名词 n.> past; former times
  E.g. Wǒ de jìxing gǎnbushàng cóngqián le.
  我的记性赶不上从前了。
  My memory isn't as good as it once was.

• <形容词 adj.> former
  E.g.Wǒmen gǎnyú zǒu qiánrén wèicéng zǒuguò de xīn lù.
  我们敢于走前人未曾走过的新路。
  We dare to break a path unbeaten before.

• <名词 n.> future
  E.g. Tā de yúchǔn xíngwéi kěnéng huì wéijí tā de zhěnggè qiánchéng.
  他的愚蠢行为可能会危及他的整个前程。
  His foolish behaviour may put his whole future in jeopardy.

• <名词 n.> first; top
  E.g. Nǐmen qián sān gè yuè shàngkè, hòu sān gè yuè shíxí.
  你们前三个月上课,后三个月实习。
  You'll have classes in the first three months and do field work in the remaining three months.