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Archaeologists have uncovered a treasure-laden burial chamber near the Terracotta Army. Archaeologists think the sarcophagus may have belonged to the emperor’s son.
Qin Shi Huang (259–210 B.C.) was the first emperor to unite the fragmented Chinese territories into a single empire. His mausoleum is the largest in the world, famously guarded by an army of more than 8,000 life-sized terracotta warriors. The mausoleum took 38 years to build.
What Surprises Does the Terracotta Valley Hold?
Although Emperor Qin Shi Huang achieved much in his lifetime, his primary goal was to conquer death. To protect himself from it, he had a vast underground complex built, stocked with armor and weapons. He also created an army of terracotta soldiers that included infantry, horses, chariots, and the equipment they would need for battle.
Most of the imperial mausoleum, which covers about 56 square kilometers, remains unexcavated because of concerns about damage from earthquakes, weather, and looters. During excavations in 2010 focused on the tomb’s foundation, archaeologists discovered a massive palace complex made up of 18 structures.
Now, archaeologists have unearthed a massive tomb filled with treasures. Archaeologists say it may belong to Prince Gao, a son of the first emperor. After his death, Prince Gao became the subject of a legend passed down for more than 2,000 years and recorded around 85 B.C. by the historian Sima Qian.
According to the legend, Prince Gao regretted not voluntarily following his father into the afterlife. He supposedly asked to be killed and buried in his father’s grand mausoleum. But some researchers think the story of Prince Gao may be fictional.
The recent discovery of a 16-ton burial chamber near the emperor’s mausoleum and its terracotta warriors may help determine whether the legend of Prince Gao is true.
In the tomb, archaeologists found weapons, armor, jade, a pair of gold and silver camels, exquisite pottery, and about 6,000 bronze coins. Arkeonews reports that these finds suggest at least one of the emperor’s sons might be buried here, or that the sarcophagus could belong to a high-ranking noble or military leader.
What Does the Expert Say?
“After the death of the first emperor, all his sons met unfortunate ends, so I am more inclined to believe that this tomb belongs to a high-ranking noble or military leader,” said excavation leader Jiang Wenxiao.
Jiang said the team was astonished by the chamber’s condition. “Most ancient tombs have been looted, so we didn’t have high hopes of finding an intact tomb. It turned out it hadn’t been robbed. We were surprised,” the excavation leader added.
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The discovery has been documented by a British–Chinese film crew. Netflix produced a film titled “Secrets of the Terracotta Warriors,” which is set to premiere in the coming days.
