From Agençe France-Presse, via COSMOS magazine:
The discovery of the Terracotta Army in 1974 could pale in comparison to the wonders purported to exist within the tomb of China’s first emperor.
XIAN, China: The tomb of China’s first emperor is potentially one of the most spectacular on Earth, but a heated debate is developing over whether to excavate it at all.Chinese archaeologists have expressed concern that they do not currently have the expertise to properly preserve what they find inside the tomb – located in China’s central province of Shaanxi – but new technologies may be closing that gap.
Qinshi Huang’s enormous tomb complex is the home of Xian’s famed terracotta warriors; 8,000 life-size figures that were discovered by accident in 1974. The tomb itself, though, has not yet been disturbed.
Historical records suggest the coffin of the first emperor, ruler of the Qin Dynasty (221 BC to 207 BC), is encased in copper and sits in a large tomb chamber full of fine vessels, precious stones and other rarities. The ceiling of that chamber is thought to be studded with jewels that represent the stars, sun and moon – while on the floor, rivers of mercury represent the earth. [Full Text]
