Starting from June 13, archeologists have dug out bronze arrow heads, colored terracotta warriors, two four-horse chariots and many other cultural relics in the 200 square meters No.1 pit, attracting worldwide attention.
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Most terracotta warriors are not colorful as people assumed before. [sohu.com]
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According to the archeologists, all the discovered items imply a large-scale colored army may exist. Each terracotta warrior, which has a steel gray appearance now, was originally colored. The change of color is not careless archeological work but is due to some historical and natural destruction. The No.1 pit has been burned and flooded in history. Other natural elements also eroded the terracotta. Thus their colors faded away leaving only a few hues when dug out.
Experts put "protection jackets"on the warriors immediately after they are unearthed. It is a special color painting method that can prevent color from being changed by oxidation. This technology was appraised by State Administration of Cultural Heritage after 19 years' of hard work.
It is the third excavation in the pit since 1974 when the terracotta army was first discovered. Countless visitors from all over the world file into the site to see how pottery figures of royal warriors of the Qin Dynasty come to life again.
