Vessels and raw materials like grains are indispensable for alcoholic beverage brewage, and there is plenty of archaeological evidence that indicate the early production of alcoholic beverage. Pottery and relics of grain, dating from the Peiligang Age and the Hemudu Age, have been unearthed to indicate that material conditions were mature for alcoholic brewing at that time. A large quantity of vessels for alcoholic brewing and drinking have been unearthed in a tomb of the Dawenkou Age in Shangdong Province. These include a set of alcoholic utensils, large pottery vessels for fermentation, and urns for filtration. According to the analysis of archaeologists, the person in the tomb probably engaged in alcoholic brewing during his lifetime. During the later New-stone Age about 4,000 years ago (Longshan Culture Period), pottery-making developed rapidly. Wine utensils unearthed include jars, urns, pots, bowls and cups. Varied drinking cups include flat-bottomed cups, curved-legged cups, high-handled cups, and cups of other shapes.

This article by Yang Tianqing and Daniel Kister.