Shi Huangdi’s TERRACOTTA WARRIORS The Eighth Wonder of the World

Discovery of the Terracotta Warriors In 1974 two famers digging a well in the countryside near the city of Xi’an (central China) found broken pieces of statues. Archaeologists found a huge underground vault filled with thousands of life size warriors and horses made of terracotta. They also found the remains of wooden chariots.

The underground city The tomb complex of Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi; the centre is a giant mound of earth which archaeologists believe covers the tomb and holds the emperor’s body. From this mound the tomb complex stretches for more than 15 kilometres in all directions. This is the largest known tomb complex devoted to a single ruler.

Archaeologists have not yet excavated the chamber that contains Shi Huangdi’s body. Archaeologists have not yet excavated the chamber that contains Shi Huangdi’s body. However they have uncovered the remains of the palaces, skeletons of people, horses and rare animals. However they have uncovered the remains of the palaces, skeletons of people, horses and rare animals. The most fascinating discovery is the emperor’s terracotta army. The most fascinating discovery is the emperor’s terracotta army.

‘The Pits’ Three main pits containing soldiers have been excavated. Altogether they contain more than 7,000 terracotta soldiers, including archers, infantry and cavalry. As well as the soldiers there are 600 horses and over 100 wooden chariots.

The soldiers and horses in all three pits are arranged in battle formation; facing east, the direction the emperor’s enemies would have come from. The soldiers and horses in all three pits are arranged in battle formation; facing east, the direction the emperor’s enemies would have come from.

The Warriors No two warriors are alike. There are young and old, different head shapes, facial expressions, hairstyles and uniforms. Some archaeologists believe that real life soldiers must have posed for the statues. Each statue is inscribed on the back with the name of the potter who made it. The names of 80 different potters have been found so far. The warriors carried real weapons made mainly from bronze.

The General

Officer

Armoured and Unarmoured Soldiers

Charioteer and two attendant soldiers

Colours of the attendant soldiers

Cavalrymen

Kneeling Archer

Colours of the Kneeling Archer

Standing Archer

Beards and Moustaches

One piece of a head mold with the trace of a craftsman’s hand left 2,200 years ago

Hairstyles

Belt Buckles