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Photograph by O. Louis Mazzatenta
An Infantryman's Faded Arm
Traces of paint offer a hint of the bold hues that decorated the army at the moment of burial more than 2,200 years ago. This fragment replicates typical armor of the era: pieces of leather covered with lacquer that were fastened together with red cords. The hand was formed to hold a weapon. -
Photograph by O. Louis Mazzatenta
Birth by Mass Production
A face took shape in one of several dozen molds. The sculptor then added details, choosing from an array of basic hairdos, ears, eyebrows, mustaches, and beards. The body was created separately and displayed a similar combination of standard elements. All together, the completed figures gave an impression of infinite variety, as in a real army. -
Photograph by O. Louis Mazzatenta
Digging Into New Discoveries
Crouching by a jumble of fresh finds, Yang Jingyi brushes away the last of the mud before restoration begins. As their excavations move closer to the central burial mound, archaeologists hope to reveal many more unusual twists to the story of the terra-cotta army. -
Photograph by O. Louis Mazzatenta
In real life an ordinary soldier's garment would likely have been made of hemp, whereas an officer would wear silk. The army had no uniforms—warriors provided their own clothing.
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Photograph by O. Louis Mazzatenta
Skin was usually painted buff, as here, or a shade of pink, though one face displays a puzzling green tint.
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Photograph by O. Louis Mazzatenta
As depicted on this terra-cotta fragment, real armor would have curved like a roof tile over the top of the arm. Underneath, most men wore a long-sleeve, knee-length coat belted at the waist.
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Photograph by O. Louis Mazzatenta
The whites of the eyes and other details offer hints of the personality that paint once brought to this face.
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