China excavating at tomb to reveal more Terra Cotta Warriors

[Judi Lynn]

China excavating at tomb to reveal more Terra Cotta Warriors
| May 8, 2015 | Updated: May 8, 2015 3:25am

BEIJING (AP) — China is expanding the ranks of the famed Terra Cotta Warrior army with new excavations expected to yield hundreds more of the ancient life-size figures.

The museum overseeing the vast mausoleum of China's first emperor says it began work March 30 on the tomb's No. 2 pit that is smaller in scale but believed to be richer in archaeological value than the already excavated No. 1 pit.

Along with 1,400 warrior and horse statues, the pit is believed to contain 89 war chariots and 116 mounted soldiers, offering invaluable insights into the military culture of the Qin dynasty, the museum said in a statement on its website.

"The No. 2 pit contains the true essence of the Terra Cotta army," the museum's former curator was quoted as saying.

More:
http://www.chron.com/news/world/article/China-excavating-at-tomb-to-reveal-more-Terra-6250439.php

[Judi Lynn]

1. More from the article regarding this new find:

In all, the tomb's three pits are thought to hold more than 8,000 figures of archers, infantry soldiers, mounted cavalry, horse-drawn chariots, officers, acrobats, musicians and others.

The pits is adjacent to the emperor's sprawling mausoleum that lies under a 76-meter (250-foot) mound and remains un-excavated as experts debate the pros and cons of doing so.

Ancient accounts tell of a huge complex of chambers, including underground rivers filled with flowing mercury, along with the remains of craftsmen and imperial concubines sealed alive in the tomb with the dead emperor.

The Terra Cotta statues weigh about 180 kilograms (400 pounds) each and range in height up to 183-195 centimeters (6 feet to 6 feet 5 inches) depending on rank. Generals are the tallest.

Can't wait to see the photos when they are made public. Wonderful discovery.

[haikugal]

2. I hope they'll be able to conserve the colors..

I'm with you, wonderful!