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The Romans were some of the most sophisticated builders of the ancient world. Over the centuries, they adopted an increasingly advanced set of materials and technologies to create their famous structures. To distinguish the time periods over which these improvements took place, historians and archaeologists typically measure the colours, shapes and consistencies of the bricks and mortar used by the Romans, along with historical sources. In new research published in EPJ Plus, Francesca Rosi and colleagues at the Italian National Research Council improved on these techniques through scientific analysis of the materials used to build the Roman Forum's Atrium Vestae....

The trial of a Delaware man who confessed last year to drunkenly snapping off the finger of an ancient Chinese terra-cotta warrior statue at the Franklin Institute ended in a mistrial Tuesday, after the jury reported it was deadlocked on whether prosecutors had charged him under the appropriate law. The panel of seven men and five women spent roughly 11 hours debating the fate of Michael Rohana, 25, of Bear, but was unable to reach a verdict on counts including theft and concealment of an object of cultural heritage. U.S. District Judge Petrese B. Tucker dismissed jurors just after 4:30...

A 2,100-year-old pit discovered in China was found to contain not only chariots and miniature statues of cavalry, horses, watchtowers, infantry, civil officials and musicians, but at its center was a scaled down version of the famous "Terracotta Army." ..Based on "the date, size and location of the pit," archaeologists believe it might been built for Liu Hong, a prince of Qi (a part of China), who was the son of Emperor Wu (reign 141–87 BC)." Based in Linzi, near the pit, Hong died in 110 BC without any heir, archaeologists wrote in their journal article. The scientists also wrote...

Chinese authorities are livid over the theft of a thumb from a 2,000-year-old terracotta warrior on loan to a US museum, calling for the perpetrator to be "severely" punished. The ancient statue is valued at $4.5 million and considered a "priceless part of China's cultural heritage." It was on display at Philadelphia's Franklin Institute when the vandalism took place. "We call on the United States to severely punish those who have done [this]," Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Relic Exchange Center's director told the Beijing Youth Daily, a state-run Chinese newspaper. The warrior statues date back to 209 B.C., when the...

PHILADELPHIA - A statue that stood guard, buried and undamaged for more than 2,000 years, couldn’t contend with a man at a private party in Philadelphia who just had to sneak off and take a selfie, according to multiple media reports. The man, later identified as Michael Rohana, 24, was seen in a restricted area at the Franklin Institute during a party on Dec. 21 that was held after-hours at the museum, The New York Times reported. FBI officials said Rohana used his cellphone’s flash as a light source to see the displays. He then put his arm around one...

CHINA's famous terracotta army is about to be reinforced: Fresh excavations on a burial pit in the ancient capital, Xi'an are expected to uncover 1500 more of the live-sized clay figurines. The excavation, which began last Thursday, is centred upon a 200sq/m patch of the 56sq/km underground mausoleum of China's first emperor, Emperor Qinshihuang, who reigned in 221BC. Archaeologist Yuan Zhongyi told media that he anticipated the burial pit would contain 1400 more terracotta warriors and archers, along with about 90 horse-drawn chariots. Progress has so far been promising, he said.: "Their colourful paint is also relatively well preserved." The...

Over 8,000 unearthed terracotta warriors stand in formation in a massive underground tomb (Pit 1) built for Emperor Qinshihuang's protection in his afterlife just 100 miles north-west of Xi'an, one of the oldest cities in China and the capital of Shaanxi Province on June 28, 2012. The Museum of the Terracotta Army has been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Terracotta army has egg on its face Monday, 21 April 2008 Jennifer Viegasv Discovery News Soldiers of China's terracotta army were once brightly painted, then preserved with an egg coating (Source: Reuters/Philippe Wojazer) China's terracotta army, a collection of 7000 soldier and horse figures in the mausoleum of the country's first emperor, was covered with beaten egg when it was made, scientists say. According to German and Italian chemists who have analysed samples from several figurines, the egg was as a binder for colourful paints, which went over a layer of lacquer. "Egg paint is normally very stable, and not...

Terracotta army sets off to conquer Britain By Nigel Reynolds, Arts Correrspondent Last Updated: 1:35am GMT 08/02/2007 In pictures: Terracotta Warriors collection China's "terracotta army" is marching on London to bring the capital its greatest exhibition for a generation. Some of the 8,000 terracotta warriors. A dozen will go on show at the British Museum in September In a spectacular deal with China, the British Museum is to display some of the famous life-size figures from the second century BC found in the west of the country in 1974. The Chinese have agreed to loan not only a dozen of...

Pollen Reveals Terracotta Army Origins Jennifer Viegas, Discovery News Pollen Found Inside Jan. 29, 2007 — China’s Terracotta Army has mystified scholars since the 8,099 clay warriors and horses were first discovered in Emperor Qin Shihuang’s mausoleum in 1974. The figures, meant to protect the emperor in the afterlife, were buried with him around 210-209 B.C. At least one mystery about the imposing faux army recently was solved. It is now known that the horses and warriors were constructed in different locations, based on analysis of pollen found in fragments of terracotta that were collected from the clay figures.Horses Made...

Back to Story - Help German joins China's ancient warriors Mon Sep 18, 10:27 PM ET A German art student tried to join a Chinese dynasty's army — but he volunteered centuries too late. The 26-year-old man — identified only as "Pablo" or by his Chinese name "Ma Lin" — made a dusty brown suit of armor, a tunic and a helmet, and attempted to blend in with the ancient warriors of the terra cotta army in the western city of Xi'an, the Hong Kong newspapers Ming Pao Daily News and Wen Wei Po reported on Monday.The outfit matched...

Archaeologists find terracotta figurines older than those buried with Chinese first emperor Chinese archaeologists have discovered two terracotta figurines dating back to about 2,500 years ago, older than the famous terracotta warriors buried with first Chinese emperor Qinshihuang. The rough-hewn, 10-centimeter tall statues might be the oldest terracotta figurines produced by the Qin State at the beginning of the Warring States Period (475 BC-221 BC), said some experts. The two figurines were found at the ruins of Yongcheng, an ancient Qin State capital, in northwest Shaanxi Province, according to local media reports. Qin State unified China in 221 BC. Qinshihuang,...

'Foreigner' helped build Terracotta Army Jonathan Watts in Beijing Wednesday June 28, 2006 The Guardian (UK) Chinese archaeologists have unearthed evidence that a foreign worker helped build the Terracotta Army mausoleum, the resting place of the country's first emperor, who died more than 2,200 years ago. The remains of the worker, described as a foreign man in his 20s, were found among 121 shattered skeletons in a labourers' tomb 500 metres from the mausoleum in the north-western city of Xian, the state-run Xinhua news agency said. According to Xinhua, the man may prove to be "China's first foreign worker", though...

The photos contained in this album are of the Terra-cotta warriors located in the Shaanxi province, just outside of Xi'an. The Terra-cotta army was constructed by order of Qin Shihuang, who ruled as the first emperor of China from 259 BC - 210 BC.The soldiers were first discovered by a peasant farmer in 1976 and were thought to be an insignificant discovery by the communist government. Later, a Chinese reporter caught wind of the discovery and used his position to bring proper recognition to the matter and the farmer was later given a whopping 10元 as a reward for his find. If he's still alive...

One of the world's greatest archeological treasures is in serious trouble because of air pollution and scientists from Nevada are coming to the rescue. The terra cotta warriors were built on orders from the first emperor of China but were buried for more than 2,000 years. Scientists from Nevada's Desert Research Institute have been asked to join an international team looking for ways to keep the warriors from wasting away. The ruthless conqueror who became the first emperor of china wasn't a guy who thought small. Emperor Chin not only started the Great Wall of China, but also used hundreds...