Background
The story of the Tomb of Qin Shi Huang begins in 1974 when farmers from Xi’an (China) dug into one of the fascinating excavations of the 20th century. The discovery was so shocking mostly because of life-size terracotta warriors that were placed under the ground. There were thousands of these soldiers near the Tomb of Qin Shi Huang, arguably placed there to protect his body and soul from conquerors (Ma et al., 2016; Zhang et al., 2017). It was also important that none of the soldiers had an identical physique, with each of the warriors having exclusive facial features, clothing choice, and a hairstyle. For almost forty years in a row, the site was excavated to at least 2,000 warriors becoming uncovered. Nevertheless, archaeologists expect to find more than 8,000 warriors in total near the Tomb of Qin Shi Huang.
The current estimations make it safe to hypothesize that the excavation works are going to continue for multiple decades due to the many challenges averting archaeologists from reaching the central tomb and unearthing the Tomb of Qin Shi Huang. The Chinese government tends to freeze unsafe excavations due to the lack of adequate techniques and technology, which might be a devastating experience for archaeologists (Heinz, 2002; Warscheid, 2005). In order not to lose a great deal of information similarly to how it occurred to the archaeologists going into Tut’s tomb, archaeologists have to think about how their excavation techniques would affect the future of terracotta warriors and Qin Shi Huang’s grave.
Latest Updates on the Dig
Some of the biggest findings related to the dig were made over the course of the last ten years, with the archaeologists discovering the #1 pit – the largest of all three currently known to them – where multiple figures were found. Relatively not so long ago, the fourth pit was excavated partially, with the works closing down due to the fourth pit being empty. The archaeologists hypothesized that the fourth pit was abandoned together with the whole burial project. As for the newly found warriors, the majority of them were excavated into one of two positions: one-half of the warriors carry their bows with the left hand, and the other half clutches pole weapons (). Each of the figures is detailed enough to have soldiers wear complex clothing and armor that point to their military rank. In addition to these arrangements, it may be safe to say that each of the soldiers found recently was unique enough and boasted distinct physical features, facial expressions, and hairstyles. In addition to terracotta warriors, archaeologists also found 12 clay horses and numerous other relics such as weapons, shields, bows, and swords stored in discrete containers.
Issues Linked to the Dig
As a big dig, the excavation of the Tomb of Qin Shi Huang is linked to several important issues that cannot be overlooked when estimating the influence of different factors on further excavations. First, the Mausoleum is too deep, meaning that the grave of Qin Shi Huang is located out of sight and cannot be accessed easily. Even though terracotta warrior pits are easily observed even by the tourists, the grave itself is dangerously placed. In the case of an eventual unearthing, it might cause a landslide, and the whole dig would be damaged (most likely, irreversibly) (Afshari, 2019; Larson, 2013). Another problem that makes this big dig an issue to follow is the enormous amount of time required to cover the excavation procedures. At least four decades had passed, with archaeologists only excavating approximately 40% of all terracotta warriors remaining in their pits. Knowing that Qin Shi Huang’s grave is at least ten times bigger than the warrior pits, many archaeologists remain uncertain in terms of how much time it would take the team to finalize the dig (if it is going to be finalized at all).
Another problem with the dig is the absence of adequate technologies that could help archaeologists respond to upcoming unwarranted issues linked to unearthed cultural relics placed in Qin Shi Huang’s grave. There is an opinion that the Mausoleum should not be excavated at all so as not to cause some of the frailest relics to disappear forever. For example, there could be paintings, silk, or frescos that would deteriorate quickly and nullify the efforts of archaeologists completing the excavation. Anything buried in the Tomb of Qin Shi Huang should be approached with care due to the real-life example of Mawangdui Han Tombs, where colorful paintings and the lacquered coffin are not as bright nowadays as they were at the time when originally unearthed (Liao et al., 2010; Zunzhi, 2015). With no preservation techniques and the lack of potential investments, there is no chance for archaeologists to finalize the excavation without any collateral damages. Therefore, financial support is another crucial limitation that affects the big dig of the Tomb of Qin Shi Huang.
Conclusion
There is a great deal of uncertainty related to Qin Shi Huang’s further excavations due to the fact that additional explorations would require the government of China to approve of the possible outcomes linked to the dig. One of the key reasons why the excavations slowed down and became so languid is the lack of technological progress in the area that could support the dig and make it easier for archaeologists to investigate the excavation without being too afraid to damage the artifacts. The case of archaeological conservation creates multiple premises for the issue of not having the right technology and knowledge to complete the excavation. When the dig was first started during the 1970s, archaeologists had missed an essential point, and it led to the prolonged exposure of the excavations to sunlight and air. These factors combined deteriorated the pigment and forced the excavation managers to find different approaches to artifact preservation.
The Tomb of Qin Shi Huang is also a big dig because it forces archaeologists from all across the globe to advance and investigate technologies that could help them final open the tomb and gain access to all the existing artifacts. The current lack of information regarding the potential use of excavation technologies has to be overcome to help archaeologists finalize the dig and protect the Tomb of Qin Shi Huang from deterioration. Currently, the desire to open the tomb and access the treasures of antiquity is met by the lack of required resources and specialized knowledge that could help archaeologists in finding out what can be found in Qin Shi Huang’s tomb in addition to numerous terracotta soldiers. Nevertheless, the team should be moving carefully enough in order not to cause any alternative damages or lose essential resources due to inattentiveness or the lack of understanding.
References
Afshari, R. (2019). Mercury poisoning, Emperor Qin Shi Huang and his Terracotta Army. BC Toxicol News Month Bullet, 1, 424-428.
Heinz, G. (2002). Combination of Photogrammetry and easy-to-use non-metric methods for the documentation of archaeological excavations. International Archives of Photogrammetry Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, 34(5), 379-384.
Larson, M. D. (2013). The Terracotta Warriors. Anesthesiology: The Journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, 119(3), 721-723.
Liao, L. M., Pan, C. X., & Yu, M. A. (2010). Manufacturing techniques of armor strips excavated from Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s Mausoleum, China. Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China, 20(3), 395-399.
Ma, Y., Fuller, B. T., Sun, W., Hu, S., Chen, L., Hu, Y., & Richards, M. P. (2016). Tracing the locality of prisoners and workers at the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang: First Emperor of China (259-210 BC). Scientific Reports, 6, 26731.
Warscheid, T. (2005). Microbiology and archaeology. Microbial impacts at historical sites during excavation and conservation. ICOMOS–Hefte des Deutschen Nationalkomitees, 42, 35-48.
Zhang, C. S., Zhang, M. M., & Zhang, W. X. (2017). Reconstruction of measurable three-dimensional point cloud model based on large-scene archaeological excavation sites. Journal of Electronic Imaging, 26(1), 011027.
Zunzhi, L. (2015). Elementary analysis on the content and related issues of animals and plants buried in the tombs of leud in the Han Dynasty. Cultural Relics in Southern China, (3), 24.