Chinese archaeologists have unearthed 110 new terracotta warriors that laid buried for centuries, an official said yesterday, part of the famed army built to guard the tomb of China’s first emperor.
The life-size figures were excavated near the Qin Emperor’s mausoleum in Xian over the course of three years.
“The most significant discovery this time around is that the relics that were found were well-preserved and colorfully painted,” said Shen Maosheng from the Qin Shihuang Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum.
The find is the latest in China’s cultural sector, after experts found the Great Wall of China — which like the Terracotta Army is a UNESCO World Heritage site — was longer than previously thought.
The finds also included a shield that was reportedly used by Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) soldiers, with red, green and white geometric patterns.
The news comes after a five-year archaeological survey found the Great Wall of China was more than double the previously estimated length.
The survey — released to the public last week — found the wall was 21,196km long, compared to an official 2009 figure of 8,851km.