18 July 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Archaeologists Uncovered a Terracotta Commander and Warriors at the Mausoleum of China’s First Emperor

Archaeologists have unearthed a rare 2,000-year-old statue depicting a high-ranking military commander at the famous Terracotta Army site in China: The statue is the first commander statue found since 1994.

This discovery is rare among the thousands of life-size warriors created because it is to the mere 10 commanders among the thousands of soldiers present there.

The statue, found buried in silt, adds to the growing collection of life-size clay warriors that have fascinated historians and visitors from around the world.

The enormous tomb of Qin Shi Huang, the first Chinese emperor who reigned from 221 to 207 B.C., was hardly documented in history. Experts have since uncovered a complex army of thousands of terracotta warrior statues, horses, chariots, and weapons surrounding the emperor’s unopened tomb. The site was discovered by locals entirely by accident in 1974 and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987. Experts believe the army was buried to protect Qin Shi Huang, China’s first emperor, in the afterlife.

Researchers say that thousands of additional warriors could exist, each uniquely designed, individually sculpted, and originally painted in bright colors.

Terracotta Army coloured statuettes. Credit: CC BY 2.0

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,” Zhu Sihong, head of the excavation project, told state broadcaster CCTV, according to the South China Morning Post.

Despite being buried for centuries, the statue retained traces of its original color. Sihong said that the silt helped preserve the statue’s paint by maintaining stable humidity and temperature levels underground.

The rare commander was not alone; he was discovered alongside two high-ranking officers and five armored warriors, as well as additional chariot and horse remnants. The intricate headdress, ornate armor with patterns and ribbon knots, and clasped hands in front of the body all contribute to the figure’s rank.

To date, a total of 7,000 soldiers, horses, chariots, and weapons have been discovered at the site (roughly 2,000 of those are life-size warriors). Many of the finds have been restored, and experts believe that thousands more life-size figures could still be buried.

Cover Image credit: CC BY 2.0

Related Articles

A 2,000-year-old ancient “mirror” throws light on aristocratic life in China

17 May 2022

17 May 2022

Archeologists in Beijing have successfully reconstructed a 2,000-year-ago dressing mirror once cherished by the high nobility during the Han Dynasty....

Ancient ceremonial chariot found in Pompeii

27 February 2021

27 February 2021

The Archaeological Park announced that a gorgeous Roman chariot was found “almost intact” near Pompeii, where it was buried, calling...

Archaeologists uncover 4,000-year-old earliest large-scale Archaic fish-trapping facility recorded in ancient Mesoamerica

28 November 2024

28 November 2024

Archaeologists, using drones and Google Earth imagery, have discovered a 4,000-year-old network of earthen canals in what is now Belize...

A Glorious Temple, inside which Sacrifices Were Performed, was Found in the Sanctuary of Artemis Amarysia on Greek Island of Euboea

13 January 2024

13 January 2024

Archaeologists excavating at the Artemis Amarysia sanctuary in Amarynthos on the Greek island of Euboea have revealed new insight into...

Archeologists Unearth Spectator snacks from the Roman Period in Colosseum

28 November 2022

28 November 2022

An excavation of the Colosseum’s sewer systems has uncovered a selection of spectator snacks from the Roman Period. It appears...

During the demolition work, a 2,500-year-old bull heads alto relievo was discovered in Sinop

20 April 2022

20 April 2022

During the demolition work of the buildings in front of the historical city walls for the City Square National Garden...

New fibula types discovered at prehistoric Kopilo graves in Bosnia

26 August 2022

26 August 2022

An archaeological dig at Kopilo, a hill settlement founded around 1300 BC about 70 miles west of Sarajevo, has discovered...

One of the oldest known mosques in the world uncovered in Israel

23 June 2022

23 June 2022

A team of Israeli archaeologists has discovered what is one of the oldest known mosques in the world. Israeli archaeologists...

The Amazon rainforest was once home to ancient cities – A vast network of 2,500-year-old garden cities

12 January 2024

12 January 2024

Aerial surveys have revealed the largest 2,500-year-old ancient cities in the Amazon, hidden for thousands of years by lush vegetation...

World’s Oldest Pants was Made through Three Weaving Techniques

26 February 2022

26 February 2022

Back in 2014, a group of archaeologists discovered in China a pair of wool pants dating back to around 3,300...

1,600-year-old steelyard weight found in Turkey’s ancient city of Hadrianopolis

1 December 2021

1 December 2021

Archeologists have discovered a 1,600-year-old steelyard weight during excavations in the ancient city of Hadrianopolis, located in the Eskipazar district...

200,000-year-old ‘mammoth graveyard’ found in the southwest UK

19 December 2021

19 December 2021

Researchers have unearthed a mammoth “graveyard” filled with the bony remains of five individuals, including an infant, two juveniles, and...

‘Mystery and Unfathomable’ King Arthur’s Hall is 4,000 Years Older Than Previously Thought

10 November 2024

10 November 2024

A mysterious monument in Cornwall has been discovered to be 5,000 years old—4,000 years older than previously thought. The rectangular...

Perre Ancient City Set to Revive Its 1,800-Year-Old Grape Mill

26 January 2025

26 January 2025

In Perre, one of the five major cities of the Kingdom of Commagene, ancient production methods will meet today’s technology....

On the beach of Herculaneum, a victim of the Vesuvius explosion was discovered with his bag

4 December 2021

4 December 2021

Archaeologists released haunting images Wednesday of the skeletal remains of a man buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in...