Located just outside the city of Xi’an, the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum, is the most significant archeological excavation of the 20th century.
Discovered by farmers digging a well in 1974 and painstakingly excavated and restored ever since by archeologists, the life size Terra Cotta figures arranged in full battle formations are a true replica of the Imperial Guard of Emperor Qui Shi, who ascended to the throne at age 13 in the year 245 BCE and thereafter united all of China under his rule.
Shortly after ascending to power the Emperor started constructing his Mausoleum with a mobilized work force of Seven Hundred Thousand. It is believed that upon completion the Emperor killed them all as to not reveal the secrets of the burial Mausoleum and it’s protecting Imperial Guard.
Each warrior is dressed according to his rank with unique facial features and head. The Warriors, Horses and Chariots were painted in vibrant realistic colors and branded weapons made of wood. The wood weapons did not survive the ravages of time and the paint pigment quickly disappeared after being exposed to light and atmosphere.
