Work in the sites around the tomb of Qin Shihuangdi has proceeded in fits and starts since the terracotta soldiers were first discovered in 1974. In recent years, Chinese archaeologists have held at bay local officials eager to develop tourism at all costs, and instead approached further excavation cautiously, seeking to avoid damaging priceless antiquities yet to be uncovered.
Work on the Number One Pit at the excavation site has been halted for over twenty years…until this weekend when a further 200 meters will be uncovered with a CCTV film crew in tow to capture the proceedings.
The initial diggings uncovered over 1,000 terracotta figures, it is hoped by the team that further work might uncover not only soldiers, but also possibly teracotta officers or officials as well.
Thanks for bringing this interesting subject up. I can still remember, on visiting Xi’an way back in the summer of 1993, seeing a billboard outside the Qinshihuang tumulus stating that excavation of the tomb was to begin, I recall, in September.
I later inquired of many Chinese, including an archaeologist, as to what was holding up the excavation. No one was able to give me a coherent explanation until a Xian-born lawyer told me that the Chinese archaeologists were working on developing preservation techniques for silk documents, to try and avoid a repeat of what happened during the Mawangdui excavations, when silk documents practically crumbled in front of the archaeologists’ eyes upon being exposed to the outside air after more than 2000 years underground.
I don’t know if that’s true, but it’s the best explanation I received…
“I don’t know if that’s true, but it’s the best explanation I received…”
I suspect it is true. And well done to the archaeologists for refusing to bow to commercial pressure.
The tombs are one of those rare historical sites that doesn’t disappoint, despite the tacky gift shops.
“…when silk documents practically crumbled in front of the archaeologists’ eyes ”
That must have been a painful moment.