In 1974 Mr. Yang was digging a new well on his property. He kept finding clay heads, and finally figured that he was on to something. He took one to his cousin who had been to the University. The cousin knew this was something big, and took it to an archeologist friend. The rest is history!
This find turned out to be the tomb of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang (259-210 B.C.), who hired 10,000 locals to work 10 years to build more than 8,000 archers, kneeling archers, infantry, calvary, officers and animals. Each warrior is different, said to be a representation of the man who worked on it. The warriors and animals and equipment were burried in a large area, spanning many locations. They were laid out in actual battle formations. Large timbers were used to roof the pits, then buried with dirt and sod.
A later ruler decided to burn the pits, but was interrupted. The roof timbers were burned, causing the earth and sod to fall into the pits. Current feeling is that the earth covering preserved the warriors for posterity.
After Mr. Yang made his amazing discovery, the Chinese government got involved, and they now pay Mr. Yang a very nice stipend and he gets to sign autographs in the Store on site. He dug another well and is using it today.
The government built a large building over the original pit to keep it from the weather. The newer pits are all climate controlled, since the exposure to air after being dug up has created problems. Originally, each warrior was painted, but when exposed to the air, the paint flakes off and literally evaporates. The government has stated it believes it has found some way to now prevent this, and has resumed some digging in small areas.
 This is the entrance to one of the newer pits |
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 Your first view in the orginal pit, an amazing and breath taking panorama |
 Warriors and horses in a trench |
 A side view of some of the warriors |
 These are repaired warriors, from pieces found and put back together |
 Some of the calvary horses in formation |
 A trench of repaired warriors |
 These warriors were replaced in the positions found in the trenches |
 A close up of a Pikeman, notice the weapon is missing, decomposed long ago |
 An Officer's face, such detail |
 A calvary Officer with horse |
 These are the fallen roof timbers |
 One of only two chariots found, with intact reins and cover |
 Wide view of the chariot above |
| Terra Cotta Warrior Museum Photos | Terra Cotta Warrior Jade Museum Photos |
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All content and photos Copyright 2006 Sharon Ruck