Terracota Army In 1974, local farmers in Xi’an, China, discovered a vast underground complex of mausoleum while drilling for water. They had serendipitously stumbled upon the burial ground of Qin Shi Huangdi, the First Emperor and the unifier of China. According to legends, the First Emperor was buried alongside great treasures inside a tomb with pearl-laced ceilings (in a pattern that represented the cosmos) and channels dug in the ground with flowing mercury to represent the rivers of China. But the most famous feature of the tomb is the Terracota Army, about 8,000 life-like and life-sized statues of soldiers buried alongside Qin Shi Huangdi to help the Emperor rule in the afterlife. Each face and pose of the Terracota army soldier is distinct from the others. Image: Peter Morgan [wikipedia] Photos: http://flickr.com/photos/mkools/729999089/in/set-72157600668961725/ Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terracotta_Army The Terracotta Army (traditional Chinese: ???; simplified Chinese: ???; pinyin: bingma yong; literally "soldier and horse funerary statues") are the Terracotta Warriors and Horses of Qin Shi Huang the First Emperor of China. The terra cotta figures, dating from 210 BCE, were discovered in 1974 by several local farmers near Xi'an, Shaanxi province, China near the the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor (Chinese: ????; pinyin: Qín Shihuáng líng). The figures vary in height (184–197cm - 6ft–6ft 5in), according to their role, the tallest being the Generals. The figures include warriors, chariots, horses, officials, acrobats, strongmen, and musicians. Current estimates are that in the three pits containing the Terracotta Army there were about 7,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses, the majority still buried in the pits.[1] The Terracotta Army was buried with the Emperor of Qin (Qin Shi Huangdi) in 209-210 BC (his reign over Qin was from 247 BC to 221 BC and unified China from 221 BC to the end of his life in 210 BC). Their purpose was to help rule another empire with Shi Huangdi in the afterlife. Consequently, they are also sometimes referred to as "Qin's Armies". Some people think that the army was also built for protection. The Terracotta Army was discovered in March 1974 by local farmers drilling a water well to the east of Mount Li (Lishan; The precise coordinates are [show location on an interactive map] 34°23'5.71?N, 109°16'23.19?ECoordinates: [show location on an interactive map] 34°23'5.71?N, 109°16'23.19?E). Mount Li is also where the material to make the terracotta warriors originated. In addition to the warriors, an entire man-made necropolis for the emperor has been excavated. According to the historian Sima Qian (145 BC-90 BC) construction of this mausoleum began in 246 BC and involved 700,000 workers. Sima Qian, writing a century after its completion, wrote that the First Emperor was buried with palaces, scenic towers, officials, valuable utensils and 'wonderful objects', wtih 100 rivers fashioned in mercury and above this heavenly bodies below which he wrote were 'the features of the earth'. Some translations of this passage refer to 'models' or 'imitations' but in fact he does not use those words. [2] Recent scientific work at the site has shown high levels of mercury in the soil of Mount Lishan, appearing to add credence to the writing of ancient historian Sima Qian.The tomb of Qin Shi Huangdi is near an earthen pyramid 76 meters tall and nearly 350 square meters. The tomb remains unopened, with hopes that it remains intact. Only a part of the site is presently excavated.[3] A terracotta soldier and his horse A terracotta soldier and his horse Qin Shi Huangdi’s necropolis complex was constructed to serve as an imperial compound or palace. It comprises several offices, halls and other structures and is surrounded by a wall with gateway entrances. The remains of the craftsmen working in the tomb may also be found within its confines, as it is believed they were sealed inside alive to keep them from divulging any secrets about its riches or entrance. In 2007 Chinese archaeologists using remote sensing technology may have found a 30 meter high building buried above the main portion of the tomb. It appears to have four large stairlike walls. Although one of the archaeologists, Duan Qingbo, suggested that it might have been built to aid the departure of the Emperor's soul, another expert, Chen Jingyuan, questioned what exactly was found and suggested that speculating as to its purpose might cause problems for future research.[4]