The mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China, was discovered in 1974. That discovery revealed the legendary Terracotta Army. But the 2,200-year-old tomb of the emperor himself remains unopened by archaeologists. Researchers have serious concerns that deadly booby traps could lie inside.
Terracotta Guardians and Hidden Traps
Qin Shi Huang ruled from 221 to 210 B.C. His mausoleum sits in Shaanxi province, in the Lintong district of Xi’an. According to legend, the Terracotta Army—about 8,000 terracotta sculptures—guards the emperor’s peace and protects him in the afterlife.
Some parts of this vast archaeological complex have been excavated and studied. Archaeologists, however, have never entered the emperor’s actual tomb and have not attempted to open it.
Researchers are wary of what might be inside. Historical documents—especially the accounts of the ancient historian Sima Qian—point to a high likelihood of booby traps inside the mausoleum. His writings say craftsmen were ordered to rig crossbows so that arrows would automatically fire at anyone who tried to enter.
The Deadly Mercury Threat in the Ancient Chinese Tomb
Those same records describe an even more alarming danger: mercury used to simulate rivers and seas inside the tomb.
Some scientists dismiss that claim as fanciful. Still, a 2020 study found significantly higher concentrations of mercury in soil around the tomb than expected.
Researchers warn that mercury vapors could escape through cracks that have developed in the tomb over time, compromising its structural integrity. The study can be read as a confirmation of the ancient records, and it may also explain why the mausoleum is believed never to have been opened or looted.
As reported by ScienceAlert, historical accounts say the first emperor of unified China believed mercury could grant immortality and consumed it regularly. He often drank wine mixed with mercury and likely died from mercury poisoning.
Researchers are not only concerned about the risks of mercury exposure if the tomb is opened; they also believe mercury may have significantly damaged the mausoleum’s interior over the centuries.
