In 1974, while digging to build a well, villagers near the eastern Chinese city of Xi’an would make the most important archaeological discovery of the 20th century – the Terracotta Army of the First Qin Emperor, the later unifier of China .
However, how could a site of such magnitude be discovered by chance, without any prior mention? The thousands of terracotta warriors were organized into a veritable underground city (necropolis), adjacent to the imperial palace. It is said that over 700,000 people in the area worked for 30 years.
A small part of the Terracotta Infantry
The whole ensemble dates from the 3rd century BC. BC, thus becoming perhaps the oldest serially produced work in the entire world. A project of huge proportions, which, however, was kept secret for over 2000 years.
However, who could order such a deployment of forces? And how could the secret be kept for so long?
Of course, only an emperor could have such initiatives. It is about Emperor Qin Shi Huang (259 BC – 210 BC), founder of the Qin dynasty, who would be the first emperor of unified China.
Emperor Qin Shi Huang (259 BC – 210 BC)
However, one detail is important to mention. The monarch was only 13 years old when he ascended the throne and decided to start work on the army of terracotta soldiers. Let’s face it, an unusual project for a teenager. A project that would continue unaltered for the entire reign of the emperor.
It seems that the purpose of the army in size and natural dimensions was the acquisition of eternal life. The role of the soldiers was to protect their emperor beyond death. The entire buried necropolis covers 80 square km, a full-scale replica of the life above.
Horses, cattle, harnesses, tools and ornaments were buried alongside the soldiers, a faithful replica of life in the 3rd century BC. Hr.
A huge secret that has been kept for two millennia. No document contained the slightest reference to the project, despite its impressive dimensions and very long construction period.
There wasn’t even an off-the-record hint, not even a legend coming from the 700,000 workers who worked on the project.
