The sophisticated weapon of the terracotta army in the tomb of Qin Shihuang

In not only being as lively as a real person, but also armed with weapons can win the enemy's life.

More than 8,000 real-life terracotta warriors were discovered in the tomb of Qin Shihuang emperor in Xi'an, China, in 1974. But it was nearly three decades later that researchers discovered Terracotta Army's weapons are real, not simulated versions. Moreover, the weapons are very sophisticated with bows strong enough to pierce armor, according to Ancient Origins.

Picture 1 of The sophisticated weapon of the terracotta army in the tomb of Qin Shihuang
Terracotta army in the tomb of Qin Shihuang emperor in Xi'an, China.(Photo: Wikipedia).

Terracotta army dating back about 2,200 years with a 50km 2 tomb complex built to prepare for the life of Qin Shihuang, the first emperor unified China.

Researchers believe that the purpose of the army is to ensure the eternal safety of the emperor in the journey to the afterlife. According to a report in the Archeology International magazine, more than 40,000 bronze weapons were found with warriors.


The process of manipulating Qin Shihuang's terracotta army.(Video: Science Channel).

Among them, arrowheads are the most common weapons that archaeologists collect. They are arranged in bundles of 100 pieces representing the number of names in the bag of an archer. Each bow and arrow consists of a triangular-shaped triangular head, and the grip helps to insert a name into a bamboo or wooden frame and a feather attached to the tail. The metal parts of the bow and arrow (arrow and grip) are the only parts intact.

Picture 2 of The sophisticated weapon of the terracotta army in the tomb of Qin Shihuang
Weapons found with terracotta army.(Photo: Wikipedia).

Scientists at the University of London and the Terracotta Army Museum recreated arrowheads from 200 BC and shot them with a bow and arrow at the time. The results showed that the arrows easily pierced through the armor used in the 2nd century BC and could cause fatal injuries.

"These bows have a level of craft that surpassed their two millennia era," said Mike Loades, a historian and expert in modern weapons.