Archaeologists have uncovered a royal tomb at the Terracotta Warrior mausoleum complex of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Qin Shi Huang’s reign marked the unification of China and the end of the Warring States period in 221 BC.
During his rule, he initiated the construction of a series of walls that connected various fortifications along the empire’s northern frontier, laying the groundwork for what would become the Great Wall of China. He also abolished the feudal system, replacing it with a centralized bureaucratic government.
Qin Shi Huang was interred in the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, a vast complex located in present-day Lintong District in the city of Xi’an. Excavations in the area have previously revealed approximately 7,000 statues (with some estimates suggesting up to 8,000) of terracotta warriors, horses, officials, acrobats, strongmen, and musicians, as well as around 100 wooden battle chariots, all intended to serve the emperor in his afterlife.
In 2011, archaeologists discovered a deep pit within the Terracotta Warrior mausoleum complex that contained a 16-tonne coffin. Initially, the coffin and its contents were left undisturbed in accordance with the Chinese government’s hands-off policy. However, due to heavy rains throughout 2024, the decision was made to excavate the burial site and relocate the tomb to a controlled environment.
Further excavations have revealed an opulent funerary collection, including weaponry, armor, jade, gold and silver camel figurines, cooking utensils, and over 6,000 bronze coins. Experts believe the tomb likely belongs to Prince Gao, one of Qin Shi Huang’s 50 children, though it may also be the burial site of a high-ranking official or general in the Emperor’s service.
Jiang Wenxiao, the leader of the excavation, remarked, “The tomb was so precisely built. So deep, so large in scale. Most ancient tombs have been robbed so we didn’t have much hope for the coffin chamber. But it turned out it hadn’t been robbed. We were amazed.”
These discoveries will be featured in the documentary “Mysteries of the Terracotta Warriors,” debuting on Netflix on June 12th, 2024.
