Terracotta Army Discovery

The Terracotta Army is a collection of terracotta sculptures that were buried with the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, in 210-209 BCE. The sculptures were discovered in 1974 by farmers digging a well near the city of Xi’an, in Shaanxi Province, China.

The Terracotta Army consists of thousands of life-sized statues of soldiers, horses, and chariots, all arranged in battle formation. The figures were constructed in great detail, with individualized facial expressions and hairstyles, and they were originally painted in bright colors.

It is believed that the purpose of the Terracotta Army was to protect the Emperor in the afterlife. The army was buried in three pits, each with its own distinct group of soldiers. Pit 1 is the largest, with an estimated 6,000 figures, while Pits 2 and 3 are smaller and contain fewer soldiers.

Today, the Terracotta Army is one of China’s most popular tourist attractions and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is considered one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century and has provided valuable insight into the military, cultural, and artistic practices of ancient China.