Science

Who really made China's Terracotta Army? Fingerprints reveal new clues

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 19/10/2026, 14:10:24 UTC.

Briefings

New research indicates that women and children contributed to the construction of the Terracotta Army in the third century B.C., challenging the long-held belief that only men built it. This finding emerged from analysis of the army's chariots, horses, and weapons, suggesting a mixed workforce rather than exclusive male labor. The discovery was made after the army was discovered in 1974, and the evidence points to a more complex production process than previously assumed.

Key points

• Women and children contributed to the construction of the Terracotta Army in the third century B.C.
• Evidence comes from analysis of chariots, horses, and weapons found at the site.

Context

The Terracotta Army near Xi'an, China, is a breathtaking sight: thousands of life-size terracotta figures created in the third century B.C. to guard the tomb of Emperor Qin Shihuang. They were discovered in 1974, and people have assumed they were built exclusively by men. But new research on this underground army and its chariots, horses and weapons suggests women and children lent a helping hand.

Limitations

Evidence is limited to the analysis of chariots, horses, and weapons found at the site. No specific dates for the women's and children's contributions are provided, nor are there any named individuals or direct quotes from researchers. The study does not specify the exact number of workers involved or the duration of their labor.

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