The Eighth Wonder of the World was discovered
in 1974 by Yang Peiyang, a peasant farmer, whilst digging
for a well in the fields at Xiyang. At a depth of 4 metres
the farmers found pottery fragments, followed by the pottery
torso of a man.
Archaelogists arrived to begin excavations and they discovered
that the site consisted of 3 pits, filled with terracotta
statues and horses, and was infact the mausoleum of the Emperor
Qin Shihuang. More than 8000 warriors and horses were unearthed,
along with over 100 wooden chariots. It appears that Emperor
Qin ordered his mausoleum to be constructed prior to his death,
taking over 20 years to complete.
When the warriors were originally made, each was modelled
on a fellow soldier, giving each one its own individual size,
style and facial expressions. They were also painted with
plant extracts, but on excavations, these colours faded within
a few days, reverting the warriors to their original colours.
When the archaelogisits discovered the pits containing the
warriors, they found the bodies to be in many pieces, the
pits having been raided and ransacked by opposing forces,
the weapons plundered and the warriors smashed. Only one warrior,
a kneeling archer, remained totally intact. The task of restoration
was immense and a project that will continue for many years
to come, as many of the lines of warriors are still totally
covered awaiting excavation.
The excavation site is now covered by exhibition halls, preventing
the modern day pollutants from attacking and further damaging
these ancient wonders. This also allows millions of visitors
the chance to view this magnificent piece of Chinese History!