Divine Discoveries

At the time of this writing, the dig at Pit No.1 had already brought forth incredible new discoveries.

Discovered on the first day were two four-horse chariots standing closely in tandem. “It is the first time we came across anything like it in the history of the Qin terracotta army excavation,” said Cao Wei, deputy curator of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum.

While cleaning up the pit, archaeologists found a clay warrior with a brown coating, and they believe that remnant red pigment might be found during the cleaning of detailed parts. Judging by the portion exposed above ground, it is possible that the lower part of the figure is completely of a painted color hue.

Also a significant surprise, a 60cm-diameter painted wooden ring was discovered on a beam. Beams, made of pine or cypress wood, flank the corridors to shield the terracotta troops. The discovery of the wooden ring, on which red and green paint remains fresh, excited the archaeologists on site. The wooden ring and the earth beneath it were packed together with gypsum and transferred to the lab for research and preservation. It is hoped that soon the function of the wooden ring will be determined.