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When Was the Terracotta Army Discovered?

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Quick Answer

The Terracotta Army was discovered on 29 March 1974 by local farmers digging a well near Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China — they unearthed pottery fragments that led to the excavation of one of the most spectacular archaeological finds in history.

The Full Story

Yang Zhifa and his fellow farmers were digging a well when they struck terracotta fragments. Archaeological excavation revealed an army of approximately 8,000 life-sized terracotta warriors, 130 chariots, 520 horses, and 150 cavalry horses, buried around 210 BCE to guard the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, China first emperor who unified the country in 221 BCE. Remarkably, no two faces are alike — each warrior has individual features, hairstyle, and expression. The figures were originally painted in vivid colours (red, green, blue, purple), but most pigment has flaked away upon exposure to air. The warriors occupy three main pits covering about 20,000 square metres. The emperor actual tomb mound, 1.5 km away, has never been fully excavated — ancient historian Sima Qian described it as containing rivers of mercury (soil tests have confirmed abnormally high mercury levels), a star map on the ceiling, and automated crossbow booby traps.

Key Facts

1.The Terracotta Army contains approximately 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots, 520 horses, and 150 cavalry horses — each soldier is life-sized (170-190 cm tall) and individually detailed.
2.No two terracotta warriors have the same face — they are believed to represent actual soldiers or use a modular system of interchangeable facial features.
3.Soil samples around Qin Shi Huang burial mound show mercury levels up to 100 times the natural background, supporting Sima Qian 2,100-year-old description of mercury rivers inside.

YouTube Angle

Suggested video title for this topic:

"The Terracotta Army — China 2,200-Year-Old Underground Legion"