Stumbling upon ancient wonder
In the early spring of 1974, a number of farmers accidentally discovered ancient bronze weapons and pieces of broken terracotta armored warriors while sinking a well at the northern foot of Lishan Mountain, 35 kilometers from Xi'an in Shaanxi Province.
No one ever expected that this accidental discovery would prove to be one of the most significant modern archaeological finds, adding greater understanding to China's history and at the same time unfolding a unique and majestic spectacle before the world. Excavation of the vault revealed thousands of warriors and their horses, an entire army designed to follow its emperor into eternity.
The site is located 1.5 kilometers east of the Qinshihuang Mausoleum. The emperor's terracotta army was found in three underground timber lined vaults. Pit 1 contained chariots and ranks of 6,000 soldiers. Pit 2 held 1,400 figures of cavalrymen, horses and infantrymen, along with 90 wooden chariots. Pit 3 contained about 70 figures. Excavating them has been a massive undertaking. To date, more than 1,000 warriors have been reassembled. The Qin Terracotta Army Museum, a hangar-like building constructed over Pit 1, place of the original discovery in 1974, opened in 1979. Later in October 1994, Pit 2 opened to the public.
China Daily
(China Daily 07/11/2007 page18)
