"Elixir of immortality" found in central China's ancient tomb

About 3.5 liters of the liquid was excavated from the tomb of a noble family in the city of Luoyang last October. It was initially judged by archaeologists to be liquor as it gave off an alcohol aroma.

However, further lab research found that the liquid is mainly made up of potassium nitrate and alunite, the main ingredients of an immortality medicine mentioned in an ancient Taoist text, according to Pan Fusheng, leading archaeologist of the excavation project.

"Elixir of immortality" found in central China's ancient tomb

It is not known how the yellow tinged liquid works. It could have been ingested, just a ritual burial object or maybe even rubbed on the body. There is no way to know if it really works unless it is tested on a human subject. Reports indicate no one has come forward to volunteer yet

A little more info here at gizmodo.com

It won't work, there's no mercury in it!!

The irony of an immortality elixir being found in a burial tomb.......

Should answer the question right there.

a reply to: LookingAtMars

Looks like piss. LoL

a reply to: LookingAtMars

Mummy Juice?

Sure doesn't look like monoatomic base metal to me.

originally posted by: MisterSpock
The irony of an immortality elixir being found in a burial tomb.......

Should answer the question right there.

More likely it's an excellently aged rice wine.

I was coming into the thread to post exactly what you said... kudos!!!

a reply to: Lumenari

It is possible it's still an immortality elixir, but maybe the owner figured using it was just too much of a cliche?

I mean, if everyone's doing it, why not be different.

originally posted by: MisterSpock
The irony of an immortality elixir being found in a burial tomb.......

Should answer the question right there.

In most beliefs of immortality, it is something that happens after you shed the body.

originally posted by: LookingAtMars

originally posted by: MisterSpock
The irony of an immortality elixir being found in a burial tomb.......

Should answer the question right there.

In most beliefs of immortality, it is something that happens after you shed the body.

How convenient.



Interesting non the less.

The article doesn't mention a body being found within the tomb..

*X-files theme plays*

originally posted by: LookingAtMars

originally posted by: MisterSpock
The irony of an immortality elixir being found in a burial tomb.......

Should answer the question right there.

In most beliefs of immortality, it is something that happens after you shed the body.

Umm, contradiction in terms. If you are dead, it's too late.

a reply to: Anathros

Lol, sorry but it does...

"The remains of the tomb occupant have also been preserved."

a reply to: schuyler

That is physical immortality, the immortality of the human body. There is also immortality of the "soul".

originally posted by: LookingAtMars
a reply to: Anathros

Lol, sorry but it does...

"The remains of the tomb occupant have also been preserved."

I admittedly have an issue with my reading comprehension! I'll improve it as soon as I figure out where the plug goes on books!

a reply to: Anathros

The info was kinda buried in the story

Salt Petre and Alum.... Both are preservatives. They may have been used to try to preserve the bodies. But face it, immortality drug in a tomb with the people who used it? It sure didn't work.

Right lol
a reply to: MisterSpock

a reply to: LookingAtMars

I am fairly sure that the liquid itself is not mortal.

originally posted by: MisterSpock
The irony of an immortality elixir being found in a burial tomb.......

Should answer the question right there.

Brilliant!

a reply to: LookingAtMars

I have no desire to be immortal, rather I hope to ascend to the next dimension.