Taylor Thornton

April 14, 2016

The Terra Cotta Army

The Terracotta Army, also known as the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses, is a
collection of sculptures made of terra-cotta that depict the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the selfproclaimed first emperor of China. These sculptures were found surrounding Qin Shi
Huangs tomb, which is located at the base of Mount Li in China. The thousands of clay
soldiers were created during the reign of Qin Shi Huang, the founder of Chinas Qin dynasty
(221207 BCE). As Shi Huang Di began construction of the Great Wall of China in the later
years of his life, he prepared for his own death by constructing a 20-square-mile funerary
compound. (History Channel)
This compound containing the statues was discovered in 1974 by a group of farmers
attempting to dig a well near the ancient capital city of Changan, which is near the modern
city of Xian. As they were digging, they came across several shards of clay. After they had
dug for a while, they discovered remains of what was later discovered to be a grand soldier of
terracotta. These farmers contacted local archaeologists, which led to one of the biggest
archaeological finds in the worlds history. (Smithsonian)
After much excavation and collection of data, archaeologists found about 600 pits within
this chamber. Three of these chambers contain many terra-cotta soldiers, horse drawn
carriages, and weapons, while the fourth remains empty as a testament to the original
chambers unfinished construction. Archaeologists estimate there to be around 8,000 of these
soldiers within the chamber, though the total number may never be known. (Naitonal Geographic)

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Qin's tomb itself remains unexcavated, though Siam Qian's writings, a court historian
from the dynasty following the Qin empire, suggest even greater treasures. (National Geographic)
"The tomb was filled with models of palaces, pavilions and offices as well as fine vessels,
precious stones and rarities," reads a translation of the text. The account indicates the tomb
contains replicas of the area's rivers and streams made with mercury flowing to the sea
through hills and mountains of bronze. Precious stones such as pearls are said to represent the
sun, moon, and other stars. (National Geographic)

Fig. 1 A View of some Terra Cotta statues (BBC)

Modern tests on the tomb mound have revealed unusually high concentrations of
mercury, lending credence to at least some of the historical account. Chinese archaeologists
are also using remote sensing technology to probe the tomb mound. The technique recently
revealed an underground chamber with four stair-like walls. An archaeologist working on the
site told the Chinese press that the chamber may have been built for the soul of the emperor.
(National Geographic)

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Though further excavation on the site has been put on hold due to the complex
conditions of the tomb, archaeologists are still using non-invasive techniques, such as using a
ground-penetrating radar (GPR), to collect more data in hopes of finding out more about this
site. (National Geographic)
This site shows how important archaeology is when trying to connect and to learn more
about the past. Historians had known that Haung had taken over by use of an army, but it
was hard for them to know much about him when all the knowledge they obtained about him
came from translated transcripts. By excavating the site, they were able to learn more about
how he took control and how he maintained his position. This site is a pure example of how
archaeology is needed to find out more about history.

Fig. 2 A View of a chamber containing many Terra Cotta soldiers. (Live Science)

In comparing this site to the field work we did in class, the pre-excavation work is
basically the same. If I were an archeologist working on the Terra Cotta site, I would use the
same techniques talked about in class. I would start by sketching out the site in detail so as to
always have a reference to where we would be working and where the artifacts are found.

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After sketching the site, I would then do a triangulation to determine where we would take our
first soil sample, just as we had practiced in class. At this same time, I would make sure to also
add onto the sketch our triangulation location and dimensions. The next step would be to take
a soil sample. The first sample we take would not be very deep, about five millimeters. Once
the sample is taken we would then compare the color of the soil with a color card. We would
then use a soil probe to take a couple more soil samples, going a little deeper and comparing
the color each time we take a sample. Another technique that I would use, and has been used
on the Terra Cotta site is a total station, which is a common archeological tool. The total
station is an electronic distance meter (EDM) used to read slope distances from the instrument
to a particular point. Along with the EDM, I would also use a GPR to help locate artifacts
without using invasive techniques, just like the current archeologists in charge of the site.
After completing the practice field work in class and studying the Terra Cotta site, Ive
come to better understand what field work is like for an archeologist, and how important it is
to find out more about a site and about its history.

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Bibliography
History Channel: http://www.history.com/shows/ancient-discoveries/articles/the-terracotta-army
Nation Geographic: http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/archaeology/emperorqin/
Smithsonian: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/terra-cotta-soldiers-on-themarch-30942673/?no-ist=
BBC: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-28392292
Live Science: http://www.livescience.com/41824-china-terracotta-warriors-photos.html?
li_source=LI&li_medium=more-from-livescience

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