Archaeologists have uncovered more than 20 new Terracotta Warriors,
life-size figures built to protect the first emperor of China in the
afterlife.
The Terracotta army is thought to consist of 8,000 sculpted "warriors"
located in three pits about a mile northeast of the mausoleum of Emperor Qin
Shi Huang (259 B.C. to 210 B.C.), who unified China in 221 B.C.
Archaeologists have excavated about 2,000 of these lifelike soldiers, which
were buried with weapons such as crossbows, spears and swords, some of which
still intact.
Qin Shi Huang became king of Qin in 247 B.C., one of several states
jockeying for land and power in China. For decades Qin had been growing
larger, gradually seizing territory ruled by other states; and in 221 B.C.,
Qin’s rivals were defeated and Qin Shi Huang became emperor of China.
Chinese historical texts say nothing about the Terracotta army or why it was
built. The army could have been a way to elevate the emperor’s status,
particularly because after Qin Shi Huang’s death in 210 B.C., his family was
overthrown by a rebellion led by what would become the Han Dynasty; that
dynasty likely did not want to highlight the first emperor’s achievements.
In addition, modern-day archaeologists often interpret the army as being
created to serve Qin Shi Huang in the afterlife.
The newly discovered warriors were unearthed in "pit one," China Global
Television Network (CGTN) reported. This pit contains mainly infantry
and chariots; a few of the warriors are generals and can be identified from
their more elaborate headgear.
A picture of the newly excavated warriors published on the television
network website appears to show only infantry, but at least one of the
newfound warriors is a general, CGTN reported. The warriors appear to
be in pieces, and experts at the Emperor Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum Site Museum
will restore them, CGTN reported.
The archaeological team did not return requests for comment at the time of
publication. Although the website of the Emperor Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum
Site Museum didn't have any information on the newly found warriors, it did
say it is common for the warriors to be found in pieces and put back
together.
These warriors will now be placed back together. It remains to be seen if
any color survived on the newly found warriors or what new information they
will reveal about the Terracotta Army.
Originally published on
Live Science.