BEIJING -- 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 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.
In addition, a large number of semi-finished bricks and tiles have been
excavated at the site, which offers important information for the research on
the buildings of the ancient Qin State, said experts.
Archaeologists said the ceramics workshop specially offered pottery materials
for the construction in the Qin capital.
Yongcheng had been the capital of Qin State for about 290 years, and had an
important status in history. Archaeologists have found relics of palace in the
ancient city in recent years.
The relics site of the ceramics workshop, which was accidentally discovered
by local farmers, has drawn considerable interest from cultural heritage
departments, which have made a plan to protect the site covering an area of some
33,000 square meters.
