Overview

The Terra Cotta Warriors is only a part of the Qin emperor's tomb complex. They may have remained forgotten had it not been for the fortuitous discovery by local peasants drilling a well in 1974. What they found would excite the archeology world.

Though excavations have been slowly uncovering the area over the last 30 years, but the underground palace, the central part of the mausoleum remains a mystery. Archaeologists predict that might take 200 years to unearth it all, and no one is quite sure what they'll find-the artisans and craftsmen who built it were rumored to have been entombed inside to ensure they never revealed the emperor's secrets.

In a vault of approximately 12,000m2 and 5m underground lay some 8,000 terracotta infantry soldiers ,archers, cavalrymen and chariots arranged in battle formation, ready to defend their emperor's immortal soul. Each soldier is approximately 1.8m-tall, with higher-ranking soldier being taller, and made of 7.6cm thick terracotta clay. Each part of the hollow body was made separately, while the trunk, limbs and hands were mass-produced, the heads were individually constructed and the fce of each warrior is distinct. The terracotta sculptures show a high level of artistry with individualized facial expressions, hairstyles and clothing and were once brightly painted with black armor, colorful red scarves and green pants, though the colors have long faded. As warriors, they each held weapon, bronze swords, spears, axes and halberds-which were still sharp when discovered, and longbows and crossbows.