Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses

The Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses were sculpted by the Qin Dynasty in 210 B.C. to protect the Emperor Qin Shihuang in his afterlife.  They are regarded as the most important archaeological findings in the 20th century and the eight wonder of the world.  Each warrior has unique facial features with a very realistic technique.  This finding also provided a great display of all kinds of weapons used during the Qin Dynasty.  They discovered the surface of most of the weapons had been treated with chromic oxide to prevent rust.  This is something the American and German armies started using in the 1920's and 30's.  It is amazing to think they had this technology over 2,000 years before it was rediscovered in modern times.  It is estimated that there are more than 130 war chariots, 275 horses, and 7,000 armored warriors.  The sculptures began working on Emperor Qin Shihuang's tomb and the terra-cotta army when he took the throne at the age of 13 and they had not quite finished when he died at 49.  All the workers, architects, and anyone involved in the construction of the tomb were buried alive after the death of the emperor to protect the tomb from being discovered.