20 More Terracotta Warriors Unearthed From Chinese Emperor’s Secret Tomb

There is already a large number of terracotta warriors associated with the late Chinese emperor Qin Shi Huang’s huge army, but it turns out that there’s more. Archaeologists have uncovered 20 more warriors in Xi’an, the capital of Shaanxi Province. 

Including the statues of a general and a middle-ranking army officer, the find was located in Pit No.1 outside the emperor’s secret tomb. 

Pit No. 1 is one of three pits containing the emperor’s “afterlife army.” Around 2,000 of the soldiers and their weapons have been excavated to date, but it’s believed that there are up to 8,000 in total, according to Live Science. 

The China Global Television Network reports that this pit, in particular, contains mainly infantry and chariots, but there are a couple of higher-ranking soldiers in their presence, as this find indicates. 

It’s common for the warriors to be found in pieces and later put back together, per the Emperor Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum Site Museum. The CTGN states that this find is no different, and the Museum will be in charge of restoring them.

But it’s not known exactly why the army was created, as historical texts spare any mention of the warriors. However, it has been believed that they were formed to protect him even after death. 

[via ARTnews and Live Science, image ID 16794764 © Hungchungchih | Dreamstime.com]