Chinese archaeologists are set to begin a fresh round of excavations at the site of the ancient terracotta warriors, hoping to uncover more secrets of China's first emperor.
About 1,000 warriors have already been excavated - all with unique features - but archaeologists believe the tomb may contain up to 8,000 life-sized figure.
While surprise discoveries are hoped for from the excavation in a 200-sq-m section of the 14,260-sq-m No 1 pit, the dig is mainly being carried out to test preservation technology that the museum has spent decades developing to ensure terracotta figures remain intact and retain their original colors, said an official surnamed Peng from the Administration of Cultural Heritage. Challenges in preserving the terracotta warriors after they have been unearthed forced Chinese scientists to scale back excavations in the past.
Challenges in preserving the terracotta warriors after they have been unearthed forced Chinese scientists to scale back excavations in the past.
