Terracotta Commander and Warrior Discovered at the Mausoleum of China’s First Emperor

A remarkable 2,000-year-old statue of a high-ranking military commander has been uncovered at the famous Terracotta Army site in China. This statue is particularly significant as it is the first commander figure found since 1994, making it a rare discovery among the thousands of life-size warriors, with only about 10 commanders identified among the vast army.

The statue was discovered buried in silt, adding to the impressive collection of life-size clay warriors that continue to intrigue historians and visitors from around the globe. The tomb of Qin Shi Huang, the first Chinese emperor who ruled from 221 to 207 B.C., is largely undocumented in history. However, experts have revealed a complex army of thousands of terracotta warrior statues, horses, chariots, and weapons surrounding the emperor’s unopened tomb. The site was accidentally found by locals in 1974 and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987. It is believed that this army was buried to protect Qin Shi Huang in the afterlife.

Researchers estimate that thousands of additional uniquely designed warriors may still be hidden, each individually sculpted and originally painted in vibrant colors. The latest find was located in No. 2 Pit. “Based on its location, we believe this figure was likely the highest-ranking military commander of this unit,” stated Zhu Sihong, head of the excavation project, in an interview with state broadcaster CCTV, as reported by the South China Morning Post.

Despite being buried for centuries, the statue has retained traces of its original color, thanks to the silt that helped preserve the paint by maintaining stable humidity and temperature levels underground. The rare commander was found alongside two high-ranking officers and five armored warriors, as well as remnants of chariots and horses. The intricate headdress, ornate armor featuring patterns and ribbon knots, and clasped hands in front of the body all signify the figure’s high rank.

To date, approximately 7,000 soldiers, horses, chariots, and weapons have been discovered at the site, with around 2,000 of those being life-size warriors. Many of these artifacts have been restored, and experts believe that thousands more life-size figures could still be buried beneath the surface.

Cover Image credit: CC BY 2.0