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发帖数: 38600 | 1 http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/11/141114-terra-co
Technology yields new insight into how a Chinese emperor produced an army
for eternity within his tomb.
China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, was a man haunted by death.
In 246 B.C. the adolescent ruler commissioned a massive tomb furnished with
everything he'd need for the next life, including an entire army of life-
size terra-cotta warriors, from mighty generals to humble infantrymen.
Arranged in battle formation in pits near the emperor's tomb, the clay army
stood watch for more than 2,000 years. Then, in 1974, local farmers
rediscovered the site while digging a well.
Since then, archaeologists have puzzled over how ancient artisans produced
the estimated 7,000 lifelike clay soldiers, right down to their stylish
goatees and plaits of braided hair. Some have suggested that the statues
were modeled after real, individual soldiers; others think they were
assembled from standard clay ears, noses, and mouths, similar to the Mr.
Potato Head toy. |
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