--- SEARCH ---
WEATHER
CHINA
INTERNATIONAL
BUSINESS
CULTURE
GOVERNMENT
SCI-TECH
ENVIRONMENT
SPORTS
LIFE
PEOPLE
TRAVEL
WEEKLY REVIEW
Chinese Women
Film in China
War on Poverty
Learning Chinese
Learn to Cook Chinese Dishes
Exchange Rates
Hotel Service
China Calendar
Telephone and
Postal Codes


Hot Links
China Development Gateway
Chinese Embassies
China Knowledge

Archaeologists Find Terracotta Figurines About 2,500 Years Ago

Chinese archaeologists have discovered two terracotta figurines dating back to about 2,500 years ago, older than the famous terracotta warriors buried with first Chinese emperor Qinshihuang.

The rough-hewn, 10-centimeter tall statues might be the oldest terracotta figurines produced by the Qin State at the beginning of the Warring States Period (475 BC-221 BC), said some experts.

The two figurines were found at the ruins of Yongcheng, an ancient Qin State capital, in northwest Shaanxi Province, according to local media reports.

Qin State unified China in 221 BC. Qinshihuang, the first emperor of a unified China, built the first Great Wall and ordered up a giant mausoleum for himself outside today's Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province, guarded by an estimated 8,000 life-size pottery warriors and horses.

The newly found small terracotta figurines might have been used to decorate houses, said an archaeologist.

The figurines were unearthed at the relics site of an ancient ceramics workshop. More than 2,000 pieces of roof tile were also found.

This is the first time such a large number of Qin State roof tiles have been discovered, said Tian Yaqi, a researcher with the Institute of Archaeology of Shaanxi Province.

Roof tiles were used on ancient buildings in China, usually engraved with characters and patterns. Fifteen different types of animal pattern - including tigers, phoenixes, toads and deer -- have been found on the tiles.

The relics site, which was accidentally discovered by local farmers, has drawn considerable interest from cultural heritage departments.

 (Xinhua News Agency August 15, 2006)

China's Terracotta Warriors to Visit British Museum
Modern Miss Asia Contestants Arrived in Xi'an
Experts Say Terracotta Warriors Perfect Safe from Weathering
Museum Denies Qin Army Corrosion
Research on Indoor Pollution of Terra-cotta Museum Launched
Print This Page
|
Email This Page
About Us SiteMap Feedback
Copyright © China Internet Information Center. All Rights Reserved
E-mail: webmaster@china.org.cn Tel: 86-10-88828000