Archaeologists unearth small warrior statues found from 2100-year-old pit in China

Archaeologists have discovered hundreds of small statues depicting infantrymen, cavalry, and performers in a 2,100-year-old pit in China.

The remarkable find bears semblance to the famous Terracotta Army built for China’s first emperor, Quin Shi Huang, though in miniature form.

Experts estimate the more recently-found miniature army was made about 100 years after the Terracotta Army, and may have been built for the Qi prince, Liu Hong, the Daily Mail reports, citing Live Science.

In addition to the roughly 300 infantry statues found at the center of the pit in a square formation, researchers also found miniature watchtowers, each standing 55 inches tall (140 centimeters), according to the publication.

This arrangement suggests the pit goes along with a burial site for someone of high status.

In the paper, published to the journal Chinese Cultural relics, the researchers say ‘vehicles, cavalry, and infantry in square formation were reserved for burials of the monarchs or meritorious officials or princes.’

But, the tomb itself has yet to be found.

The experts say it’s possible the burial site is located in an inaccessible area, or may have been destroyed.

They suspect, however, that the pit and its adornments were designed to guard the grave of Liu Hong, the son of Emperor Wu, who ruled from 141 to 87 BC, according to Live Science.

‘Textual sources record that Liu Hong was installed as the prince of Qi when he was quite young, and he unfortunately died without any heir,’ the researchers wrote.