On June 13, 2009, the fourth China national Cultural Heritage Day, the third excavation of Terracotta Warriors Pit 1 was started, which is 24 years after the second excavation in 1985. It is learned that this is the first individual excavation of Pit 1. The excavation zone is located in north-central area in the Pit 1. It is planed that 200 square meters (239 square yards) in Pit 1 will be finished excavation in 2009, and in the following five years, the 2000 square meters (2,392 square yards) area in the north of the Pit 1 will be dug out, by then the east and west part in the north of the pit 1 will be connected.

Present Situation of Pit 1
The terracotta Pit 1 has been excavated twice. The first excavation was taken between 1978 and 1984 when 1,787 pieces of terracotta warriors were unearthed. The second excavation was in 1985 but stopped in the same year because the equipment and technologies in that time could not protect those precious cultural relics. The two excavations only cover one third of the total area in Pit 1 of Terracotta Warriors Museum.

In order to protect the painted clay sculptures, the experts from China and Germany have developed a conservation technique in color paintings after a 20 years' research work. This technology has reached international advanced level. Currently, over ten pieces of colored terracotta warriors have been protected by the use of this technology. During the third excavation, if more colored terracotta warriors or other colored cultural relics be discovered, the technology will be put into use in the conservation of the colored paintings.

Six Surprises
Through experts' careful clearance, excavation and explain, the excavation receives much on the first day. There are about six surprises which has opened visitors' eyes.

The First Surprise – Two four-horse chariots closely connect
In the passageway No.G9, archaeologists surprisingly discovered two adjacent war chariots at the front and back. These "closely united" chariots are the first time to be discovered in the history of archaeology in terracotta warriors, because the other chariots discovered before all had rows of terracotta warriors stand between every two chariots.

The Second Surprise – Half face of a terracotta warrior has colored paintings
On the broken pieces of terracotta warriors buried in the passageway No.G9, experts found colored paintings. A body of terracotta warrior is partly covered with brown paintwork and had red paintings on the arm. In the passageway No.G10, a terracotta warrior stays near perfect with clear hair bun and handlebar moustache. It is astonishing that half of his face is left with a large area of colored paintings.

The Third Surprise –A four inches bronze arrow head is sharp still, though has been buried for over 2,000 years. An expert explains that it was used by soldiers in Qin Dynasty (221BC – 206BC) when they shot an arrow. Besides, the discovery of this arrow head is an indication of the excavation of more weapons in the future in this area.

The Fourth Surprise – A big wooden ring is painted red and green colors. It has a diameter of 60 cm (24 inches). The colors on it remain bright. After reinforced in the field, the experts brought it back to laboratory for further preservation and restoration.

The Fifth Surprise – Over 150 terracotta warriors, two horse chariots and eight terracotta horses will be unearthed in trial trench T23. Moreover, the lacquer work, colored drawing and organic substances will be well preserved during this excavation.

The Sixth Surprise – For the next few years, visitors will be able to see the excavation process while visiting the Pit 1. They will witness the appearances of various cultural relics when unearthed, which sounds exciting to most visitors.

Five Expectations
Archaeologists place many expectations on the third excavation. The first is whether delicate colored terracotta warriors would be unearthed. The second expectation is that more sharp weapons will surely be found. The third expectation is that whether or not the terracotta of military advisor would be discovered. The fourth expectation is that whether or not the terracotta of foreign face exists. This is not a groundless assumption. In the early 2003 when experts cleared up a tomb lying in a Qin kiln site, they unexpectedly discovered a skeleton whose DNA had the characteristics of western Eurasia. Based on this fact, experts speculated that the frequent associations between Eastern Asias and Western Eurasias have already started in the Qin Dynasty, and probably, the terracotta warriors with foreign looks will be found. The fifth expectation is that whether or not the green-faced terracotta warriors appear again.

Related Links:

Emperor Qin Shi Huang
Mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang
 Photos of Terracotta Warriors

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