Chinese workers first discovered the amazing Terra Cotta Warriors accidentally when they were digging a well in 1974. Then archaeologists began to dig at the site and found sculptures of 6,000 soldiers made of terra cotta clay. These soldiers stood around the tomb of Emperor Qin
Before the time of Emperor Qin (221-210 B.C.E.),the Chinese buried slaves and soldiers with their rulers. The slaves and soldiers accompanied their masters into the next life to help and protect them. This burial tradition ended with Emperor Qin. He substituted a clay army for a human one. The soldiers in his tomb were life-size statues of warriors who were dressed and ready for battle.