Chinese archaeologists have discovered a terracotta warrior statue in Pit 2 near the mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of unified ancient China. The warrior statue resembles a high-ranking military officer.
According to China's state television CCTV on December 16, the latest discovery in Qin Shi Huang's terracotta army provides insight into the organization and military structure of the Qin Dynasty (221 BC - 207 AD).
Zhu Sihong, a Chinese archaeologist leading the excavation project at the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum, noted that this is the first high-ranking military officer to be found in Pit 2 of the site since official excavations began in 1994.
“Based on the location of the statue, we believe the figure could be the unit's highest-ranking military commander,” he said.
According to CCTV, in Qin Shi Huang's Terracotta Army, generals are often distinguished by their helmets, elaborate armor, and hands clasped in front. The generals' armor is often decorated with detailed patterns, ribbons, and floral knots.
Excavations in pit number 2 in the tomb of Qin Shi Huang also discovered 2 traces of chariots, 3 clay horses and 3 other terracotta statues.
Archaeologists point out that chariots are usually accompanied by four horses and three soldiers driving them.
Since archaeological excavations at Pit 2 of the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum officially resumed in 2015, Chinese archaeologists have identified troop formations including cavalry, archers, chariots, and mixed units.
The Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang is located in Shaanxi Province, northwest China.
In 1974, local farmers accidentally unearthed fragments of clay statues while digging a well. The discovery led to one of the most important archaeological discoveries in China - the Terracotta Army in the tomb of Qin Shi Huang. The Terracotta Army was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987.
2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the discovery of Qin Shi Huang's Terracotta Army. Over the past five decades, Chinese archaeologists have unearthed more than 2,000 life-sized terracotta warriors, along with bronze chariots, stone armor, and other artifacts in three pits covering more than 20,000 square meters, according to CCTV.
