Archaeologists reveal findings on ancient acrobat figures

The latest research was recently conducted on the so-called No 28 figure, unearthed from the K9901 burial pit of the Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum – located in Lintong district of Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province.

The mausoleum site itself is a UNESCO World Heritage site of global interest, containing the renowned Terracotta Warriors.

The artifact, which is in a lying position, was given the temporary name "supine figure". Fingerprints were discovered on it. By comparing the fingerprint database data, it can be deduced that the craftsman was a teenager.

The craftsman's fingerprints on the No 28 "supine figure" unearthed from the K9901 burial pit of the Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum in Xi'an. [Photo/Xi'an Daily]

This was announced at a summit forum on cultural relics protection technologies held in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, on June 22.

The figure took nine months to restore. It measures 154 centimeters in length and weighs 101 kilograms.

Different from the terracotta soldiers and civil officials in other burial pits, it is thought that the figures in K9901 pit might portray acrobats who performed in the imperial palace, according to the museum.

Zhou Ping, deputy curator of the museum, also explained that the No 4 figure unearthed in 2012 had been given the temporary name "blister nail figure".

The "blister nail figure" is in a standing posture. [Photo/Xi'an Daily]

The figure is in a standing posture, with a height of 1.57 meters (excluding the head), and the whole body is painted with a colored tincture.

In addition to the restoration of the costumes of the acrobat figures, research on the music and dance of the operas in Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) will also be carried out.

Cloth ornaments restored from the costumes of acrobat figures. [Photo/Xi'an Daily]