China plans new terracotta army dig

by Barbara McPherson | June 10, 2009 at 01:30 pm

449 views | 96 Recommendations | 11 comments

Chinese archeologists are planning further digs around the site of the world famous terracotta warriors. These statues were produced in fired clay over 2 000 years ago to serve the emperor in his afterlife. Each warrior is depicted in full body armour and was equipped with weapons which have disappeared over the millenea. It is speculated that the figures represent real life people as each soldier has an individual face.

The important site was discovered accidently in 1974 when workers were digging a well.

Chinese archaeologists are set to begin a fresh round of excavations at the site of the ancient terracotta warriors, hoping to uncover more secrets of China's first emperor.

The warriors were produced more than 2,200 years ago to guard the tomb of Qin Shihuang, the first ruler of a united China.

While thousands of clay figures have been unearthed, many more are expected to be unearthed in this new round of excavating.
Perhaps even more stunning than the many human figures unearthed are the life sized horses and accompanying war chariots.
The museum is located close to the ancient city of Xian in the People's Republic of China. The soldiers have been left in place and the museum has been built around the cohorts.

I went to the exhibit at the British Museum and they had a part at the end that talked about how the rest of the site was really difficult to dig out as there were high concentrations of mercury in the soil when they did tests. They think that it came from the fact that Qin Shi Huang replicated rivers out of mercury for his underground city, and that is why if the excavate they could relase high levels of toxic mercury.

Thank you, Barbara, for the update on the latest terracotta army dig.

This is a vivid example of how unique and awesome China really is. The society has remained intact for centuries...

Rev. Jermano

Rivers of mercury in an artwork. That's so out there.

China is prospected-to other two-thirds of Terra Cotta Warriors, be worth to expect. - From Dreambox

I was so excited to see this Barbara! I studied for 0ne degree in fine art and was so lucky to have a professor who knew more about history, mythology and the cultures than the style of work and techniques..(well, no, he just was more informed and passionate about the stories behind the works) This is the work of the God- Goddess here. No medium to me is more sacred than the clay. We did not get to see a video like this ..It is magnificent to see the size of this...

Dr. Paul G. Bahn from 100 Great Archaeological Discoveries:

"There were 85 different sculptors with their names discreetly engraved and sealed under the armpits or beneath the long coats of the warriors. The crafstmen used local clay, fired at a very high temperature ,(c.800C, 1472' F), which gave the pottery a greyish surface colour.

The figures were painted different colors to reproduce the details of the uniforms .

The fact that the figures remain hard as rock despite burial for two millennia , testifies to the skill of the ancient potter in achieving an accurate firing temperature.

The floors were paved with 250,000 fired clay bricks. The roof is of wood, huge pines and cypresses.

The large pit 1 which contains most of the figures, had been destroyed by fire; it is now enclosed within a hangar and is one of China's ( and the Worlds) major tourist attractions

Pit 2 may have 1300 figures of men and horses with 80 wooden chariots.

Chinese archaelologist found that Pit 3 had collapsed naturally, damaging contenst badly. It contains 68 warriors, four horses and a war chariot and 34 weapons. This pit seems to represent the headquarters, the army's commanders and their personal guard. These warriors ar taller than average soldiers at least 5".

The emperor lies in a huge burial mound about a mile away from his troops. It was said the mound contains booby traps , as wel las a three-dimesnional map of China with rivers of mercury!

When constructing a way to get tourist there a new find was made in 1990,south of the tombs of the emperor Liu Qi (188-144 BC.) and his wife, the size of 12 soccer pitches. Contains another army associated with the two toms and housed in 24 vaults.

These are notes from an article in my book;

100 GREAT ARCHAEOLOGICAL DISCOVERY BY Dr. Paul G. Bahn

He is also the author of

IMAGES OF THE ICE AGE (1988)

and co author with Colin Renfrew, of

ARCHAEOLOGY: THEORIES, METHODS AND PRACTICE (!991)

and editor of the

COLLINS DICTIONARY OF ARCHAEOLOGY (1992) &

CAMBRIDGE ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF ARCHAEOLOGY (1996)

This would help shed more light on this era of Chinas History wish was fascinating.

Exciting, wonder what they find.

Yes jermano..they also have writings of brilliant philosophers. Are you familiar with the

I Ching ...of course you are!

I am afraid we are going to be history like these magnificent warriors...if people do not

learn and stand up to corruption in the senate and congress. The hatfields and McCoys

had better.....................integrate.

Pictures speak a thousand words...to our deeper intelligence..

Here is one time that I can wholeheartedly agree with Rev Djermano. The area that is modern day China is absolutely fascinating and has a magnificent history. The city of Xian rivaled Rome for size and civilization. Marco Polo wrote about it and was not believed. When I was there in 1992, some of the city walls were still intact and they were awesome. Much larger and higher than anything I had seen in Europe. That burial mound that Queenshart spoke about is a small mountain in the midst of a plain -- many, many steps to the top. Thanks to all of you for your comments.