Mysterious terracotta commander offers new clues to China’s ancient Qin dynasty army

Rare statue of high-ranking officer is helping archeologists piece together military structure of the first empire in China

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Archaeologists at the site of China’s legendary terracotta warriors are buzzing about a recent discovery that appears to be a rare statue of a senior military commander. Photo: CCTV

Published: 3:03pm, 18 Dec 2024Updated: 3:51pm, 18 Dec 2024

Archaeologists working at the vast tomb of the famous terracotta warriors in China’s northwest Shaanxi province have unearthed a mysterious life-size figure believed to be that of a senior military official.

The statue, discovered at the mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of the Qin dynasty, under which China was unified after centuries of political turmoil, is the first of its kind to be found at a site known as pit No 2, according to Zhu Sihong, head of the excavation project.

“Based on its location, we believe this figure was likely the highest-ranking military commander of this unit,” Zhu said in a report aired on Monday by state broadcaster CCTV.

Archaeologists at the site of emperor Qin Shi Huang’s tomb in northwestern China have continued making discoveries of well-preserved artefacts. Photo: CCTV

The discovery is a significant milestone in understanding the military organisation and structure of the short-lived Qin dynasty (221-207 BC). Generals of the time were typically distinguished by intricate armour patterns, headdresses and specific hand placement.

The statue features a symmetrical front and back, adorned with exquisite patterns and ribbons. To date, only 10 other statues with such adornments have been discovered among the 8,000 warriors unearthed at the tomb.

This discovery comes as China celebrates the 50th anniversary of the terracotta warriors’ discovery. In 1974, local farmers stumbled upon clay fragments while digging a well, leading to one of the world’s greatest archaeological finds.

An exhibition at the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum Museum that began in September features 230 artefacts, several of which are on display for the first time.