Stunning bronze 'soup bowls' and other cooking pots have been discovered inside a 3,100-year-old tomb in China.

The food vessels, which are covered intricate designs, were found alongside a badly decomposed body believed to belong to a Zhou warrior chief.

Along with other relics found at the site, dubbed Tomb M4, the 'tureen' style dishes are thought to have been the spoils of war, taken from the rival Shang dynasty.

Scroll down for video

This photo shows a tureen, a vessel that is often used to serve soup. It has four handles and 192 spikes on it

Bronze 'soup bowls' and other cooking pots have been discovered inside a 3,100-year-old tomb in China

THE ZHOU DYNASTY The Zhou dynasty followed the Shang dynasty and preceded the Qin dynasty and lasted longer than any other in Chinese history. The Zhou and Shang dynasties co-existed for many years, before falling into fighting in the 11th Century BC. The military control of China by the Ji royal house lasted from 1046 until 771 BC for a period known as the Western Zhou. Centralised power decreased throughout the Spring and Autumn (770 to 476 BC) and Warring States periods (475 to 221 BC). During these eras, the Zhou court had little control over constituent states that were at war with each other until the Qin state consolidated power and formed the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC. The Zhou Dynasty had formally collapsed only 35 years earlier, although the dynasty had had only nominal power at that point. Advertisement

Researchers from the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology in China made the discovery in Baoji City.

Around 57 tombs were found during excavations that started in 2012.

Construction workers uncovered bronze vessels while they were building houses in the area, leading archaeologists to take interest.

Experts believe many of the vessels were used in religious or burial rituals, rather than for eating.

Their quality suggests the person buried inside the tomb was of noble status.

In an article published in the journal Chinese Cultural Relics, Zhankui Wang, who led the dig, said: 'The occupant of Tomb M4 was most likely of elite status, and could potentially be a high ranking chief or the spouse of a chief.

'After conquering the Shang dynasty, the Zhou king distributed the plundered war spoils to the military officers with great achievements, and these spoils usually included bronze vessels.'

The Zhou dynasty followed the Shang dynasty and preceded the Qin dynasty and lasted longer than any other in Chinese history.

Experts believe the food vessels, which are covered intricate designs, was found alongside a badly decomposed body believed to belong to a Zhou chief

Along with other relics found at the site, dubbed tomb M4, the soup bowl is believed to behave been part of the spoils of war, taken from the rival Shang dynasty

Experts believe many of the vessels were used in religious or burial rituals, rather than for eating. Their quality suggests the person buried inside the tomb was of noble status

The Zhou and Shang dynasties co-existed for many years, before falling into fighting in the 11th Century BC.

The military control of China by the Ji royal house lasted from 1046 until 771 BC for a period known as the Western Zhou.

Centralised power decreased throughout the Spring and Autumn (770 to 476 BC) and Warring States periods (475 to 221 BC).

WHAT THE RESEARCHERS FOUND The bowls and other items include a four-handled tureen, which were often used to serve soup. It is decorated with 192 spikes, as well as engravings of dragons, birds and 24 images of cows. Two separate wine vessels shaped like a deer were also found inside. A few of the vessels hold inscriptions that include the names of different Shang clans. The Zhou may have seized the bronze vessels during the war and given them to the person who was buried in the tomb. Advertisement

During these eras, the Zhou court had little control over constituent states that were at war with each other until the Qin state consolidated power and formed the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC.

The Zhou Dynasty had formally collapsed only 35 years earlier, although the dynasty had had only nominal power at that point.

The bowls and other items include a four-handled tureen, which were often used to serve soup.

Researchers from the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology in China made the find, which included this wine holder in the shape of a deer

A few of the vessels hold inscriptions that include the names of different Shang clans, who were at war with the Zhou

Members of the Zhou may have seized the bronze vessels from their defeated enemies and given them to the person who was buried in the tomb

The Zhou and Shang dynasties co-existed for many years, before falling into fighting in the 11th Century BC. This image shows a tureen with images of dragons and creatures with elephant-like trunks

It is decorated with 192 spikes, as well as engravings of dragons, birds and 24 images of cows.

Two separate wine vessels shaped like a deer were also found inside.

A few of the vessels hold inscriptions that include the names of different Shang clans.

The Zhou may have seized the bronze vessels during the war and given them to the person who was buried in the tomb,