The tomb of Qin Shi Huang, China's first Emperor, remains untouched to this day—and the reason why is as fascinating as it is unsettling.
While archaeologists have made countless remarkable discoveries over the years, few are as iconic as the burial site of the first ruler to unify China. Constructed over a span of 38 years—from 246 to 208 BC—the massive mausoleum was designed to mirror the ancient capital of the Qin Dynasty, Xianyang, and lies near the modern city of Xi’an.
The site first came to light in 1974, when a group of farmers digging a well stumbled upon what would become one of the most significant archaeological finds of the 20th century. Their discovery led to the unearthing of hundreds of life-sized statues—now known worldwide as the Terracotta Army.
The Terracotta Army was first discovered in 1974 (Luis Martinez/Design Pics Editorial/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
These clay figures, believed to represent soldiers, court officials, strongmen, and even musicians, were buried with the emperor to serve as guardians and companions in the afterlife. Despite decades of excavation revealing thousands of these figures in separate chambers, the emperor's actual tomb—at the heart of the complex—remains sealed.
But why, with all our modern tools and technology, has the tomb never been opened?
Surprisingly, it’s not because of legends or curses—although tales of traps and deadly mechanisms inside the tomb still linger. The real reason is scientific.
When the Terracotta Warriors were first uncovered, many were found painted in vivid colors. However, once exposed to air, the pigments began to deteriorate almost immediately. Today, the once-colorful statues appear entirely bare, their original hues lost due to a sudden change in environmental conditions.
This loss has made archaeologists extremely cautious. They fear that opening the emperor’s tomb without the proper technology could irreversibly damage any delicate artifacts within—artifacts that have remained sealed off from air, light, and moisture for over two millennia.
There's a few reasons why archeologists don't want to open the Emperor's tomb (Pictures From History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Because of this, experts are holding off, hoping that future advancements in preservation and excavation will allow them to explore the tomb without compromising its contents.
Kristin Romey, a curatorial consultant for the Terracotta Warrior exhibition at New York’s Discovery Times Square, explained the dilemma in an interview with Live Science:
“The big hill, where the emperor is buried—nobody’s been in there. Partly it’s out of respect for the elders, but they also realise that nobody in the world right now has the technology to properly go in and excavate it.”
Until that technology exists, the tomb of Qin Shi Huang will remain undisturbed—a silent guardian of secrets that may forever reshape our understanding of ancient China.
