The latest archaeological discovery! There is actually an ＂animal world＂ in Qin Shihuang’s mausoleum.
CCTV News:Zhou Tie, chief engineer of Qin Shihuang Mausoleum Museum, said recently that in the latest drilling work of Qin Shihuang Mausoleum, archaeologists have basically understood the general structure of the mausoleum area through local excavation of the road system. Experts also found a large number of burial pits, some of which even reached thousands of square meters.
A large number of stone armor were found in more than 400 burial pits
Zhou Tie said that more than 400 burial pits, large and small, have been found in mausoleum of the first qin emperor, and dozens of small tombs and burial pits have been found around it. In the burial pits that have been excavated at present, pottery products are the main products.
△ Qin Shihuang Mausoleum/Data Map
Archaeologists also found a large number of armor and armors, all made of stone, outside the mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor. Experts say that stone objects are not only heavy but also fragile and should not be used in actual combat. What is the real function of these stone products with the same configuration as Qin Bing at that time remains to be further studied.
There are thousands of animals buried in the "animal world" in the mausoleum.
At the same time, a new archaeological discovery of Qin Shihuang’s Mausoleum has been announced recently: thousands of animals of all kinds have been found in Qin Shihuang’s Mausoleum, which is the China Imperial Mausoleum with the largest number of animals found at present.
"There are many kinds of animals unearthed in the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, including real animals buried with the grave and animals simulated by pottery and bronze," said Wu Lina, deputy researcher of the Mausoleum Museum of the First Qin Emperor, which, to a certain extent, reflected that Qin people accumulated experience in their daily lives, gradually mastered the habits of various animals, and learned to domesticate and utilize them.
△ Qin Shihuang Terracotta Warriors/Data Map
According to preliminary statistics, horses account for the largest number of all kinds of animals unearthed from the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, including pottery horses unearthed from pits 1, 2 and 3 of Terracotta Warriors, bronze horses unearthed from Tongche Horse Pit and horse bones unearthed from stable pit. Secondly, rare birds, exotic animals and waterfowl, as well as a large number of animal bones to be identified after excavation.
Wu Lina said that after years of archaeological excavation and research, deer, muntjac herbivores and some omnivores have been unearthed in the pit of rare birds and animals; A total of 46 bronze birds were unearthed in the waterfowl pit, including 6 cranes and 20 swans, and the rest were geese and other birds. There are mussel ornaments, sheep bones and chicken bones unearthed in Qin tomb in Shangjiao village, and pearls unearthed in some tombs buried in the north of Lingbei; The remains of more than 10 kinds of birds, animals, fish and turtles were unearthed in the No.1 large burial pit on the north side of the cemetery outer city.
"Animal World" from Edible to Entertainment
The ancients paid attention to the underground world after death and paid attention to things like death. Many ancient people had the custom of burying animals, and mummified cats, dogs and crocodiles were unearthed in ancient Egypt. In the underground world of ancient China emperors, there was naturally an "animal world" for eating or entertainment.
△ Qin Shihuang Mausoleum/Data Map
Archaeology has confirmed that at least 12 kinds of animals were used in Qin Dynasty. Horse is a strategic resource, so it occupies a special position; Deer and muntjac are wild animals and products that reflect hunting behavior; Fish and turtles, chickens and sheep belong to edible animals; Mussels and shells belong to decorations. Birds, such as swans and cranes, are rare. In the No.7 pit of the cemetery, the scene of human domesticating birds and animals is displayed, showing the picture that people live in harmony with birds and animals and the natural environment.
△ Qin Shihuang Terracotta Warriors/Data Map
Undoubtedly, in the Qin Dynasty 2000 years ago, the species of domesticated animals not only increased a lot, but also the purpose of domesticating animals expanded from obtaining meat resources and offering sacrifices to the spiritual field of leisure and entertainment. Of course, some animal bones are badly damaged and have not been identified after being unearthed, which still needs further protection and research.
Hou Ningbin, vice-president of Shaanxi Qin figurines Research Association and president of the Mausoleum Museum of the First Qin Emperor, said that people and animals have been inseparable since ancient times, and the animal world and the human world complement each other. Compared with the cognitive level of the ancients, today’s concepts such as biodiversity protection should be vigorously advocated after the rise of animal archaeology. (This article Source: Xinhua News Agency, Huashang. com)