Terracotta Warriors Pit 1

Terracotta Warriors Pit 1 is the largest pit of the mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. It was discovered by local farmers when they were digging wells above east part of the mausoleum in February, 1974. They found there are statue of people and horses in the same size of real people and horses, and the underground warriors with a  history of over 2000 years was excavated and built into a Museum. Qin  Terracotta Warriors  in Xian were buried with Emperor Qin Shi Huang and consists of Pit 1, Pit 2, Pit 3 and Terra Cotta Warriors pit.  Terracotta Warriors is praised as “the Eight Wonder of the World” and it was listed as one of “World Cultural Heritage Sites” in 1987.  
 

During 1978 to 1984, Shaanxi Archaeological Institute excavated the Pit No. 1. The excavated area is 2000 square meters. 1087 terracotta figurines were unearthed from the pit. Part of terracotta figurines were repaired and restored. In 1985, archaeologists began the second excavation. As the equipments were not perfection, for better preserving the relics here, the second excavation was stopped one year later. The excavation in 2009 is the first independent excavation of pit 1.

 

Terracotta Warriors Pit 1 is a 230 long, 64m wide rectangle pit with 5 gates. There are corridors at the east and west ends, while side corridors at south and north part. In the middle, there are 9 east to west holes separated by loam walls. There are mainly chariots infantries figures, and the chariots and infantries forms rectangular teams. At the corridors of south, north and west, there are group of warriors standing and facing outside. There three rows of warriors at the east ends. At the 9 inner holes there are 4 warriors in each wearing coat armors or armours. In the middle of holes there are chariots with horseman and two soldiers.

 

The Pit 1 has unearthed over 500 terracotta warriors, 6 terracotta chariots, 24 terracotta horses, and bronze swords, wugou, spears, arrows, crossbows, bronze halberds and other bronze weapons and ironware. At the east end of the pit, there are 210 terracotta warriors in man size which has different face, in different clothes and hair styles. They are so lively and stand in three rows with 70 in each row. Except for the 3 leader in armours, others are in short brown and puttee with arrow and crossbow in hand. Followed are 6000 terracotta infantries with 3 meter’s spear, dagger-axe or halberd. The battle array is very neat and equipments are perfect, which is the art which shows the grand army formation under the rule of Emperor Qin Shi Huang.