Why has the tomb of the First Emperor of China not been excavated?

[pecksniff]

In the 1970s I read a National Geographic cover story about the recent discovery of the Terracotta Army surrounding the tomb of Qin Shih Huang, with a description -- based solely on contemporary records -- of the tomb itself, which supposedly included a giant map of the empire, with mercury rivers. I was looking forward to discoveries even more amazing than the tomb of King Tut. But it's been four decades since the Terracotta Army was discovered, and nobody has yet entered the actual tomb.

I find myself wondering -- is it possible that the Chinese, even after decades of rationalistic Communism, are afraid of disturbing the Emperor's spirit?

 

[rae121452]

it's under what amounts to a small mountain, requiring extensive excavation. they haven't even excavated most of the surrounding army et al. and, yes, there is a certain concern re: respect.

 

[pecksniff]

it's under what amounts to a small mountain, requiring extensive excavation.

This is a country that supposedly has the resources to build high-speed rail lines along the entire route of the ancient Silk Road! They can't tunnel into a mountain?!

 

[ishtat]

I have seen it, and it is colossal, only a fraction has been excavated. The central tomb is the size of a soccer pitch and the whole necropolis covers 24,500 acres. Most of the Army was found as fragments and has been painstakenly re-assembled.

Excavation is ongoing but the Chinese prefer to do it thoroughly rather than quickly. A major problem is that all the statuary was originally painted, however, paint which survived for 2200 years buried, peels off in less than five minutes when exposed to the open air.

Chinese people have significant reverence for the site, not because of religious views, but it is by far the most outstanding early material evidence of the origins of their culture, people, and nation.

 

[pecksniff]

Chinese people have significant reverence for the site, not because of religious views, but it is by far the most outstanding early material evidence of the origins of their culture, people, and nation.

There are older artifacts -- e.g., bronzes from the Shang dynasty -- but, I'm sure, nothing so spectacular in scale.

 

[pecksniff]

. . . with mercury rivers.

It's worth noting that Qin Shih Huang died insane, and not too old, because his Taoist physicians gave him mercury-based longevity drugs. They had an alchemical theory in which mercury was the highest metal, so of course it should bestow immortality.

He was not the last emperor to suffer mercury poisoning from longevity drugs, either.

 

[Conager]

Is that what ails our current emperor?

 

[oggbashan]

There is also the suggestion that the Emperor's tomb was surrounded by a lake of mercury - very poisonous.

 

[pecksniff]

There is also the suggestion that the Emperor's tomb was surrounded by a lake of mercury - very poisonous.

So the archaeologists can go in carrying their own air. It doesn't require any technological advances.

 

[juttjaw]

So the archaeologists can go in carrying their own air. It doesn't require any technological advances.

How do you dig a tunnel into the earth and not let in outside air? We talking a tunnel condom of some sort?