The life-size soldiers, generals, archers and horses are in battle formation facing east and they estimate that 6000 figures are buried in this pit alone.
All the figures are painted in vivid colours when first uncovered but the pigments quickly deteriorate in the air. So, until they have the technology to preserve the paint, the figures in the 3rd pit remain buried.
In another pit, the military command post had been recreated with the guardsmen, horses and a chariot (which had since rotted away leaving only the bronze harness and weapons.
Two 1/4 scale bronze chariots were also found and the Emperor is believed to be buried inside the real version of his bronze chariot underneath a model of his kingdom which includes a river made of mercury. Scientists and archeologists are working on how to excavate the tomb.
The farmer that found the site is now employed/instructed to sit in the gift shop 5 days a week, signing copies of the photo-guidebook. Unlike the emperor’s nephew at the Forbidden City - he was not a happy bunny.
