Why are archaeologists afraid of opening the tomb of China's first emperor?

Jerusalem Post ^ | 9/18/23 | Walla

[Roman_War_Criminal]

Death traps and mercury poisoning are just some of the concerns facing archaeologists contemplating excavating Qin Shi Huang's tomb, China's first emperor.

In 1974, farmers stumbled upon one of the most meaningful archaeological finds in Shaanxi Province, China. While tilling the land, they unearthed a clay figure, only scratching the surface of what lay beneath.

Qin Shi Huang's Tomb

Subsequent excavations unveiled an array of pits housing thousands of life-sized terracotta army statues depicting soldiers and warhorses. This Terracotta Army seemingly served as protectors of the mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China, who reigned from 210 to 221 BC. The mausoleum sits approximately 1,500 meters away.

[Roman_War_Criminal]

[Telepathic Intruder]

Is there a particular reason for even doing that?

[broken_clock]

[kiryandil]

"An illustrative example is the 1970s excavations of the city of Troy, led by Heinrich Schliemann"

Heinrich McFly.

[Jonty30]

I do know that it was thought that the Terracotta warriors were based on real people, because the details of each statue is too varied to be made up by humans.

Maybe a receptacle of each warrior that dies.

[ealgeone]

Covid II

[broken_clock]

Ha, that one went right over my head 🤔

[aquila48]

I saw that on my last trip to China. AMAZING!

They are life size and each with a different face.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

The emperor himself dedicated a considerable portion of his life to pursuing a legendary elixir of immortality—a quest many believed in fervently. He embarked on extensive journeys searching for this mythical potion, even dispatching a unique expedition to locate a legendary island rumored to hold vast quantities of this miraculous elixir. Seeing himself as a deity and coveting eternal life, he resorted to consuming a concoction of mercury, hoping it would confer immortality. Ironically, this potion proved to be his undoing, resulting in his demise at 50 after a 37-year reign.

Even thousands of years ago, listening to your best doctors' advice was deadly.

[Secret Agent Man]

Journolista idiots can’t even get BC years correct anymore.
It would be 221 BC to 210 BC.

[oldvirginian]

Because he was an Emperor and could have it done for him. He probably started on his mausoleum the minute he became emperor.

[Honest Nigerian]

The craftsmen must have gotten really good at churning those things out.
Back when Made in China meant something.

[Fai Mao]

They are believed to be portraits of the emperor’s imperial guard members. Depending on who you ask, it was either the Chinese or the Romans who invented the standing professional Army and the statues are evidence of uniform armour,weapons and carry symbols of rank that show these were not just a militia.

[Ancesthntr]

“”An illustrative example is the 1970s excavations of the city of Troy, led by

Heinrich McFly.”
—————
Schliemann did his excavations in the 1870s, and would’ve needed Doc Brown’s Delorean to be doing it 100 years later.

[Ancesthntr]

They’re afraid because too many of them saw “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.”

[metmom]

Then leave it alone.

[metmom]

Maybe they suspect they’d encounter some demonic hordes imprisoned there and are afraid of unleashing them.

[SunkenCiv]

Better left undug.

[Red Badger]

Virus?

Mercury poison?

Curse?

Booby traps?

Ghosts?.............................

[PeterPrinciple]

The foremost reason for this reluctance lies in the fear that excavations could harm the tomb, potentially causing the loss of invaluable historical insights. Presently, the only way to access the tomb involves invasive archaeological methods, fraught with the risk of irreparable damage.

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for those who only read headlines....................