Experts have refuted reports that China's 2,000-year-old terracotta
army have been exposed to damaging mildew, saying they now have
technology to prevent mould growing on the statues.
Media reports last month said that 48 species of potentially
destructive mould were detected on the terracotta warriors and
horses. However, the experts said most moulds were found on wooden
sheds and earth works surrounding the army.
"Earth works in the Number 2 pit were found covered with mould
in 1994, and experts have since paid great attention to the
phenomenon," said Zhou Tie, a senior researcher at the Terracotta
Warriors Museum and president of the national research center for
protection of colored pottery.
"In 1998, the mould problem was largely resolved. Since then,
the figures have been under proper monitoring and management," said
Zhou. "Mould control work has developed from rescue and restoration
work to a stage of early prevention. Now we can confidently say
mould is no longer a problem," Zhou said.
From 1994 to 1998, experts developed effective fungicides to
battle scores of mould species. They have worked with the
Belgium-based Janssen Pharmaceutical Co., a world leader in mould
control, in equipping the Number 1, 2 and 3 pits with anti-mould
instruments and monitoring devices.
Zhou said the temperature and humidity inside the pits were
closely monitored to prevent conditions for mould to occur, and
both air and earth samples were regularly taken or research and
monitoring.
The statues of warriors and horses were buried with Emperor
Qinshihuang over 2,000 years ago. His mausoleum near Xi'an has
never been excavated, but the life-size figures were unearthed from
surrounding pits in the 1970s. The "army" has since become a great
tourist attraction.
As some key conservation problems have not been solved, only
1,500 terracotta warriors and horses have been unearthed, with
nearly 6,000 items still buried.
(Xinhua News Agency November 28, 2006)
