This necropolis was the final resting place of the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang. Inside the tomb, archaeologists discovered 8,000 life-sized statues, a palace, a pyramid, and many valuable artifacts. However, even after fifty years of exploration, archaeologists have only managed to investigate 1% of the site.

However, that May, a group of archaeologists from the Shaanxi province reached the well site, too. They proceeded to conduct further excavation work in the surrounding area, which would later be recognized as the initial site for excavation.

Upon analysis, historians concluded that the location was none other than the tomb of the inaugural Chinese emperor Qin Shi Huang. What was more exciting was that the site was brimming with over 8,000 life-sized clay soldiers, each intricately crafted.

Unfortunately, archaeologists had been unable to locate Qin Shi Huang’s tomb, despite having uncovered the burial sites of numerous other Chinese rulers. That was the case, however, until 1974.

Additionally, he demonstrated little regard for the safety and well-being of his workers, with many laborers and artisans perishing while constructing his tomb. The tomb contains a sacrificial altar, which historians speculate was used by Qin to sacrifice laborers to ward off potential robbers.

Astoundingly, he had a labor force of approximately 700,000 working on his tomb. The work on the tomb persisted many years after the emperor’s passing, remaining concealed from view for more than two centuries.

They eventually discovered four significant burial pits. Within the pits, they found Qin Shi Huang’s tomb alongside 2,000 statues. This discovery was the first of many more years of research and excavation that would help these archaeologists discover more treasure. 

The enormous scale of this tomb is evident when comparing its size to one of China’s most renowned landmarks, Beijing’s Forbidden City. To put it in perspective, the tomb is a quarter of its size.

It was a common belief among ancient people that life continued after death. It is believed that Qin may have wanted to ensure that all of his forces were present in the afterlife, as well.

As curator of the University of Chicago’s Oriental Institute, Teeter noted that many of these stories are likely embellishments or legends passed down over the centuries. Thankfully, explorers don’t have to worry about giant rolling boulders.

In fact, the necropolis replicated the layout of Qin’s capital, Xianyang, featuring both inner and outer cities. A truncated pyramid-shaped mound measuring 250 feet in height – located in the southwest corner – serves as the final resting place of the emperor’s body.

These mercury rivers make exploration quite difficult. Some experts speculate that the tomb could hold treasures and clay statues depicting the emperor’s consorts, but searching for them hasn’t yielded any results. 

Additionally, he was the one who ordered the construction of his mausoleum with the inclusion of rivers of mercury, which he believed would grant him immortality in the afterlife. Despite his efforts, Qin Shi Huang died in 210 BCE at the age of 50, likely from ingesting many mercury pills.

According to historians, the creation of these terracotta statues was highly organized, resembling a modern-day assembly line. Each craftsman specialized in creating one specific part of the statue, such as the arms or the head, and then the parts were assembled before they were given their unique characteristics using clay.

The level of detail and craftsmanship that went into creating the tomb’s sculptures is truly impressive. Artisans even fashioned terracotta waterfowl, such as cranes, ducks, and swans to accompany the emperor in the afterlife.

They would then carefully polish and paint the surface of each sculpture. It’s quite fascinating to think that each statue was made with the same raw material, yet the attention to detail resulted in completely distinct figures. 

The tragic consequences of the rushed excavation of King Tut’s tomb in the 1930s serve as a cautionary tale for archaeologists. The hurried digging efforts destroyed a great deal of historical information and precious artifacts. 

By waiting until the proper technology and expertise are available, we can ensure that the tomb is explored thoroughly and respectfully. The last thing we’d want is to sacrifice any of the invaluable historical information it contains.

On the contrary, some argue that there is an urgent need to explore the underground palace. They point out that the mausoleum is situated in an earthquake-prone area, and the artifacts may be destroyed by natural disasters or looting.

The third and smallest vault of Qin’s tomb is referred to as the “command post.” Unlike the other two vaults, this section does not contain any terracotta soldiers.

Each chariot within the exhibition hall comprises over 3,000 individual parts, weighing approximately 2,700 pounds. Highly skilled artisans were responsible for carving intricate details into the sculptures, such as umbrellas to shield the drivers.

It’s worth noting that rather than representing specific individuals, the terracotta warriors likely depicted various types of soldiers who served in ancient China. Qin’s death took the entire political system down with him. 

There were also several non-lethal weapons, like cone-shaped spears known as shus, utilized during ceremonial events. Many of these weapons can be viewed in museums today.

Unfortunately, when they were found, they were already shattered into thousands of individual pieces. Luckily, restorers were able to recreate them over eight years. These are currently the largest bronze chariots in all of China.

This does not necessarily mean that people in ancient times were taller than they are today, as historical records indicate they were of similar height. Rather, the larger size of the tomb’s sculptures was likely intended to make them appear more imposing and intimidating.

In September of 1987, French President Jacques Chirac referred to it as the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” In 1996, it was officially recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, solidifying its place in history as an incredible feat of human engineering.

Many of these projects remain undiscovered to this day. While some of the tomb’s features have been uncovered, such as the bronze sculptures and terracotta warriors, others are still mysteries of the deep earth.

It’s possible that future excavations could continue for centuries, but the extent of these efforts will depend on the Chinese government. Of course, historians are eager to uncover more of the tomb’s secrets.

The restoration process involved reassembling the pieces, polishing, repainting, and attaching lost limbs to the sculptures. Many of these restored artifacts can now be seen in museums worldwide, enabling historians to study them in detail.

Consequently, the construction of the tomb came to a halt, leaving it unfinished. Still, it remains the largest necropolis ever discovered, surpassing even the Pyramids of Giza in size.

For those unable to travel, various international museums, such as the British Museum, exhibit artifacts from the mausoleum. Many important figures, from American presidents to British royalty, have visited the museum.