Exacting Excavation

To date, three pits holding Qin terracotta warriors and horses have been discovered, and Pit No.1 is the largest. Measuring 230 meters from east to west, 62 meters from north to south, and five meters in depth, the rectangular pit is divided by 10 earthen partition walls into 11 latitudinal corridors. According to the grouping density of the terracotta figures discovered so far, Pit No.1 may hold 6,000 human figures and horses.

The majority of clay figures unearthed from Pit No.1 represent warriors, generally 1.7 meters in height, with the tallest at 1.9 meters. Most hold a bronze weapon, and despite the passing of 2,000 years, those remain bright and sharp due to a treatment to resist rust.

The first formal excavation of the site, carried out from 1978 to 1984 by the Archaeological Team of the Qin Terracotta Figures under the Shaanxi Archaeological Research Institute, uncovered 1,087 clay figures. In 1985 the archaeological team commenced the second excavation, which lasted only a year due to limitations of technology and equipment.

Previous excavations were mainly conducted within an area of 2,000 square meters, only a portion of the eastern section of Pit No.1. “From the perspective of academic study, further excavation is necessary to reveal the characteristics of Pit No.1, the exact number of the terracotta warriors and horses, and the number and array of the chariots,” said Wu Yongqi, curator of the Museum of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses of Qin Shihuang.

The third excavation, concentrating on an area of 200 square meters, is being carried out exclusively by the archaeological team of the Museum. Visitors from the general public are welcome at museum while the excavation work is ongoing.

Marvelous Mysteries

Not long ago, experts with the Museum of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses of Qin Shihuang completed the restoration of a 2,000-year-old halberd, a project lasting more than a year. To date, numerous weapons, including halberds, crossbows, arrows, and bronze swords, have been unearthed from Pit No.1. Some experts predict that other kinds of weapons will be brought to light.

In early 2003, on the site of a kiln dating to the Qin Dynasty – about 500 meters from the gate of the Museum, the Archaeological Team of the Qin Terracotta Figures under the Shaanxi Archaeological Research Institute discovered a tomb holding 121 human skeletons. While conducting DNA tests on the bones, the experts unexpectedly found a body with characteristics typical of a western Euro-Asian. Analysis indicated that early during the reign of Emperor Qin Shihuang, prior to the emergence of the Silk Road during the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D. 220), there was already communication between East Asia and the western regions of Euro-Asia. Therefore, it is possible that foreign faces will be found among the Qin terracotta warriors.

Of the thousands of terracotta figures uncovered, the “green-face warrior” drew special attention, as he differed from the other clay warriors, with their pinkish flesh-colored faces. Will more green-face figures like this be discovered? No doubt, more surprises are in store.