The newly unearthed pit-terra-cotta Acrobats and a Bronze Tripod:

The newly unearthed pit-terra-cotta Acrobats and a Bronze Tripod:

　

     In addition to the chamber of armor, archaeologists have found another pit 40 meters south of the stone armor and helmet pit. The trial excavation on an area of only 9 square meters of the pit in rectangular shape unearthed 12 pottery figures and "No. 1 Bronze Tripod" of the Qin Dynasty on the top layer of the same pit.

     Similar to real people in size, the figures were only clothed in a short skirt in a shape similar to those of  woman's miniskirt today. Some appear tall and strong  while some appear others short and slim. Exquisitely made, the figures vary in posture. One has his hand raised and another holds a piece of his skirt. Compared with the serious expressions on the Terra-cotta Warriors, these figures were more active and expressive.

     According to an analysis of the restored figures, archaeologists said, different from the terra-cotta Warriors, these pottery figures might be the acrobats who served in the Emperor Qin's imperial palace, portraying the splendid acrobatic art of the Qin Dynasty.

     The bronze Tripod unearthed on the top of the 12 acrobats is the biggest and heaviest one which has been found so far from the emperor Qin's Mausoleum. It is 59.5 centimeters in length, 64 centimeters in diameter and 212 kilograms weigh.

     The Tripod was originally a cooking utensil for boiling meat. With the consolidation of the system of hierarchical rites and music, Ding also became a symbol of stratum. This bronze tripod was delicately shaped with rich, fluid and beautiful patterns. Again, due to the lack of historical records, experts estimated that it might be a piece of sacrificial offering of that era.

 8． The newly unearthed pit-CivL Officials:

     In October 2,000, another new burial pit located southwest of the Emperor's tomb mound

 was discovered.                                                                                                                               The restored pottery acrobats 

     Only a few pottery figures unearthed from the pit have been restored and two of them are on display in the Museum temporarily. Both figures have colorful paint remained on the faces. Their facial expression is gentle and humble. They dress in similar costume as the pottery warriors in the burial army pits located 1.5 kilometers east away. The hands have no weapons, but cross at the waist and covered by long, loose sleeves. Each of them wears a knife and a knife-sharpener at the waist. The knife was used as the present eraser for peeling wrong notes inscribed on wood or bamboo, because paper had not been invented during the Qin period. The Unique knife and knife-sharpener are the first of their kind so far unearthed from the emperor's Mausoleum.                                                                                 

　

                                                                                                           The bronze Tripod unearthed on the top layer of the acrobats

     It is estimated that these pottery figures might be the low ranking civil officials who served in the Central Government of Qin Empire.

     The construction of QinShihuang's Mausoleum required considerable resources and manpower at that time. In present day, continuous excavations are going on. Archaeologists are sure that more and more treasures will be brought to light in future.