This year marks the 50th anniversary of the archaeological excavations of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. According to the Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum, archaeologists recently discovered a rare high-ranking officer in pit number 2.

Experts note that this discovery holds great significance for studying the military organization and system of the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC). The high-ranking officer, also known as the general figurine, is adorned in armor, wears a special crown, and has its hands together in front of its abdomen. It is decorated with intricate patterns and colorful ribbons on the armor, shoulders and chest. So far, only 10 such figurines have been discovered among the Terracotta Warriors.

In the on-site emergency conservation laboratory of pit number 2, staff members conducted detailed cleaning and preliminary assembly of this newly unearthed high-ranking officer. The laboratory and the archaeological excavation platform provide essential support for field excavation and cultural relic preservation. This includes capabilities for analysis, restoration, environmental monitoring and regulation, ensuring a smooth transition of relics from their excavation environment to storage conditions.

Over the past half-century, archaeologists have uncovered pits number 1, 2 and 3, covering an area of over 20,000 square meters. More than 2,000 Terracotta Warriors and Horses, bronze chariots, stone armor, and hundreds of figurines representing various types of entertainers have been excavated. The discoveries have clarified the major relics of the Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum and provided a scientific foundation for its comprehensive protection and systematic exhibition.