The weapons of the ancient Chinese terracotta army were so powerful that they could easily penetrate the enemy's armor.
Scientists have found that the weapons of the ancient Chinese terracotta army were so powerful that they could easily penetrate the enemy's armor, the Daily Mail writes.
Terracotta Army - Burial of more than 8,000 full-size terracotta statues of Chinese warriors believed to have been created to protect Emperor Qin Shi Huang even after his death. The emperor died in about 210 BC, and it is to this time that the creation of clay warriors, as well as 520 clay horses, are dated. The terracotta army was painted pink, red, green and blue to resemble real warriors, with each of the figures differing from the others with unique features and even facial expressions.
For the first time, a burial near the city of Xi'an, about one and a half kilometers from the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, was discovered by local peasants back in 1974. Since then, experts have been conducting excavations at this place. Their third and final stage at the moment began in June 2009. Previously, scientists determined that the weapons of the terracotta army were real, and not made of clay, like the warriors themselves. In a new study, experts decided to test its power.
To do this, they made exact copies of the arrowheads found in the burial, as well as the armor of the 2nd century BC, a "contemporary" of terracotta figures. Then, using a crossbow from the same period, they shot at the armor - and it turned out that the arrow pierced it with ease.
“These arrows were two millennia ahead of their time,” said an expert on ancient weapons, quoted in the publication.