The color of 1,000-plus painted terracotta warriors, sculpted 2,200 years ago in the Qin Dynasty (221-206 B.C.), were so exquisitely detailed that each face appeared unique before they were burnt to their current color.
　　On June 9, Chinese archeologists announced their latest findings after a three-year excavation at a pit inside the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum of Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Xi’an, capital of northwest China’s Shaanxi Province. Archaeologists have unearthed 110 new terracotta warriors, 310 artifacts, including parts of chariots, weapons and tools, along with 12 pottery horses in three groups. The findings are unprecedented in recent times.
　　Emperor Qinshihuang (259-210 B.C.), the first Chinese emperor, had two famous wonders of the world built over 2,000 years ago: One is the Great Wall, and the other is his mausoleum, which is widely known for its terracotta army. Both have become major tourist attractions in China. The inner caverns of Qinshihuang’s grand tomb, however, remain a mystery.
　　In 1974, the terracotta warriors were discovered by villagers when they dug a well near the emperor’s tomb. It was the first glimpse of the once unbeatable army of the Qin Empire, recreated in clay inside the mysterious mausoleum. Archeologists have so far conducted three careful excavations over the past 38 years. This is the third dig, which began on June 13, 2009.
　　Exquisite detail
　　The fact that the terracotta warriors were painted with colors is one of the most significant findings from the newest excavation.
　　“Each pottery artifact buried in the pit of the mausoleum was once painted in different colors, though most of the terracotta warriors unearthed before are gray,” said Xu Weihong, a researcher in charge of the excavation at the museum.
　　Archeologists have discovered a number of terracotta warriors with black or graybrown eyes, while other figures display fierce red eyeballs and black pupils.
　　“The paint on pottery artifacts wore off due to undeveloped techniques in the Qin Dynasty and years spent being buried underground,” she said. “But we still can identify some remnants of color on the eyes and nails of the terracotta warriors.”
　　Archaeologists had assumed that the color of the figures would be faded or otherwise damaged.
　　Sophisticated arms
　　In addition to new terracotta warriors, scientists found many weapons used by the ancient army, including chariots and accessories, which provide more materials to study the military strength of the Qin Dynasty.
　　Items that belonged to these warriors, such as crossbows and drums, can also be found among the remains.
　　Archeologists found a painted shield on an unearthed chariot, the first of its kind to be discovered in any of the three burial pits of Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum.
　　“The shield was partly broken, and it’s believed it was the type used by a high-ranking official, because it’s larger and had colorful patterns,” said Zhang Weixing, a member of the excavation team.
　　The shield is 70 cm in height and 50 cm in width, with red, green and white geometric patterns. “It was found on the right side of a chariot, thus it might serve as a defensive part of the martial cab,” said Yuan Zhongyi, the former curator who presided over the site’s first excavation.
　　“This shield’s fine art painting reveals that Qin soldiers not only were brave in attack but also attached importance to defense in fighting,” Yuan said.
　　On the two unearthed chariots, archeologists also found different wooden parts, made of elm, mulberry or oak. Ancient people were very careful in choosing correct materials when building heavy armed equipment, Yuan said.
　　Other discoveries include bows and crossbows as well as 10 pieces of bi, a kind of fighting spear. According to historians, the Qin army possessed the most powerful crossbows in terms of range and accuracy at that time.
　　The mystery of how the sculptures were arranged in formation also drew the attention of archaeologists.
　　At the excavation site, most terracotta warriors face the east, while only the soldiers on the outside line face the north.
　　“Archaeologists speculated in the past that the ancient Qin army had a wing guard to prevent enemy attacks from the side. This excavation confirmed it,” Yuan said.
　　The Qin Dynasty was one of the strongest regimes in history. The unearthed terracotta warriors reveal an era of unrivaled military strength.
　　Entertaining the emperor
　　Along with the terracotta warriors, a number of statues depicting entertainers or acrobats have also been found in a neighboring pit. The figures have a pink finish, with red, purple and black patterns. The largest of the performers was 2.5 meters high, with 32-cm-long feet.
　　“From the pit located in the southeast part of the mausoleum, we unearthed 41 figures that were different from the warriors. From their gestures, we can judge that they were giving a performance,” said Shen Maosheng, head of the archaeological team for the most recent excavation.
　　According to Shen, these life-sized pottery figures with funny and exaggerated gestures are probably performers who entertained guests at the emperor’s palace. The excavation of acrobats marks the finding of a new kind of terracotta figures inside the mausoleum.
　　Evidence of burning
　　Archeologists have discovered evidence of burn marks on some of the unearthed pottery artifacts, suggesting damage once inflicted on the terracotta warriors for unknown reasons.
　　For a long time, there were two views on the burning of the warriors and horses: One was that it was spontaneous combustion that was caused by biogas produced by wood and other organic materials inside the pit; and the other was that it was a deliberate act. During this excavation, archaeologists found evidence confirming that the fire was intentional.
　　Archeologists have found blackened remains and red earth suggesting that the warriors may have been burned in a large fire in the pit. A notable detail is that pottery figures near corridors and doors showed the worst damage. It is possible that their proximity to air vents left them most exposed to the flames.
　　“Today, some archaeologists speculate that Xiang Yu (232-202 B.C), one of the leaders who overthrew the Qin Dynasty, and his soldiers may have set fire to the pit,” said Shen.
　　Xiang had a deep hatred for Qinshihuang because his country was defeated and his family members were killed by Qin’s army. When Xiang occupied Xianyang City (near Xi’an), capital of Qin, in 206 B.C., four years after the emperor was dead, he may have raided the tomb of Qinshihuang. Many Chinese chronicles left records of the historic event, and the new findings may verify those records and confirm archaeologists’ speculations, Yuan said.
　　According to the archeological team, the current excavation will be completed within two or three years. In the coming years, researchers will continue to protect the precious ancient artifacts and attempt to restore their erstwhile color.