High Technology Used to Probe First Emperor's Tomb

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, November 20, 2001

High Technology Used to Probe First Emperor's Tomb

High technology is being applied to studies of the tomb of Qinshihuang, China's first unifier, located in Xianyang in northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

High technology is being applied to studies of the tomb of Qinshihuang, China's first unifier, located in Xianyang in northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

Thanks to aerial surveys and close-up photography, archaeologist have obtained a shadowchart of the whole tomb, identifying the overall arrangement of the terra-cotta army guarding the main tomb chamber, and some elevation drawings and isograms of the terra-cotta warriors and their weapons.

The archaeologists have also obtained computer data on the air quality and soil composition of the tomb, as well as information on how mold has encroached on the historical remains using the latest microbiology technology.

In addition, diffraction technology, fluorescence analysis technology, and spectrum analysis technology have also been widely used to study the composition of the terra-cotta warriors and horses.