China's Megatomb: Secrets of the Terracotta Army | SPECIAL | National Geographic

Key Concepts:

• First Emperor of China (Qin Shi Huang)
• Terracotta Army
• Tomb complex
• Shi Ji (Records of the Grand Historian)
• East-West cultural exchange (Greek influence)
• Mercury poisoning
• Succession Coup
• Brutality and Murder of Royal Family
• Immortality Elixir
• Archaeological techniques (core sampling, ground penetrating radar, remote sensing)

1. The First Emperor and His Tomb Complex

• In 230 BC, the King of Qin united seven warring kingdoms to form China, becoming its first Emperor.
• His tomb complex, covering 22 square miles, is larger than Egypt's Valley of the Kings.
• The site includes the Terracotta Army and numerous pits containing artifacts and remains.
• The tomb is located beneath a large mound, surrounded by Chinese military bases.

2. The Terracotta Army

• 8,000 life-sized terracotta warriors were buried with the Emperor to serve him in the afterlife.
• The army is arranged in battle formation, including light infantry, heavy infantry, and cavalry.
• Each warrior has a unique face.
• Originally, the warriors carried real, functional weapons, but most were looted.
• The Terracotta Army is a symbol of Chinese cultural heritage.

3. Historical Accounts and New Discoveries

• The "Shi Ji," written 100 years after the Emperor's death, is the primary historical source about his reign.
• Archaeological discoveries are revealing new details about the Emperor and his army.
• Stone armor suits have been found, suggesting armor for soldiers in the afterlife.
• The tomb complex includes living quarters, mass graves, and a pit containing a body that could be the Emperor's son.

4. The Theory of Greek Influence

• Art historian Lukas Nickel proposes that the Terracotta Army was influenced by Greek sculpture.
• Life-sized human figures were uncommon in China before the Emperor's reign.
• Greek statues from Central Asia, dating to the same era, share similarities with the Terracotta Warriors.
• In 221 BC, 12 foreign statues appeared at China's western border.
• Alexander the Great used statues as propaganda.
• This theory suggests earlier East-West contact than previously believed.

5. Forensic Evidence and the Mysterious Skull

• A skull found at the tomb site has non-typical Asian features.
• Experts at Dundee University analyzed the skull and created a facial reconstruction.
• The skull has a stronger brow ridge and a more projecting nose than typical East Asian skulls.
• This evidence supports the theory that foreigners were present at the tomb site.

6. The Emperor's Paranoia and the Succession Coup

• The Emperor sought immortality and consumed mercury, which led to madness.
• He ordered that his location be kept secret, even from his ministers.
• The Prime Minister plotted to put the Emperor's youngest son, Hu Hai, on the throne.
• Ancient scrolls found on the Hong Kong black market describe the events surrounding the Emperor's death.

7. The Murder of the Heir and Royal Family

• The scrolls reveal that Hu Hai murdered his eldest brother, Fu Su, the rightful heir.
• An arrowhead was found embedded in a skull, indicating an execution-style kill with a crossbow.
• Hu Hai murdered all of his siblings to eliminate any challenges to his power.
• The remains of six others were found buried with the skull of the possible heir.

8. The Fate of the Concubines

• Hu Hai neutralized any remaining threats, including concubines who might be carrying the Emperor's child.
• The mutilated remains of young women have been found at the tomb site.
• Archaeologists have discovered 98 more tombs, with ten excavated so far, each containing the mutilated remains of a young woman.
• Jewelry found with the remains suggests they were concubines of the Emperor.

9. The Emperor's Tomb and Its Treasures

• The "Shi Ji" describes the treasures buried within the tomb, including rivers of mercury and constellations made of jewels.
• Archaeologists are using core sampling, ground penetrating radar, and remote sensing technologies to analyze the tomb complex.
• The tomb is believed to be intact.
• The pyramid-shaped mountain is manmade, with a stone structure inside.
• High concentrations of mercury have been found, supporting the legend of rivers of liquid metal.

10. Conclusion

• The First Emperor was a visionary and ruthless leader who unified China and built an extraordinary tomb complex.
• He laid the foundations of his nation, which has endured for thousands of years.
• The tomb site continues to reveal new insights into his life, reign, and legacy.