10 • ISSUE September 2009
Volume 16, No. 1
Standing Guard Houston Museum of Natural History exhibits Qin dynasty Terra Cotta warriors CLAY HAS BEEN PROVEN to stand the test of time perhaps more than any other medium. From ancient pottery to lifelike sculptures, ceramics have been used to carry and preserve foods, decorate homes, buildings and tombs and, in some cultures, are even believed to protect people in the afterlife. The Houston Museum of Natural Science is hosting “Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China’s First Emperor” through Oct. 18. The exhibit features 120 ancient Chinese artifacts and a 15 warrior sample of the estimated 8,000 terra cotta warriors discovered in Xi’an in 1974. Tickets for the exhibit are $30 for adults and $24 for students with an optional purchase of an audio guide for an additional $9. The audio guide is optional but very helpful in the tour. It offers additional information about
Story by Andrew Strange
Armored General, top, and Kneeling Archer, above, are among the Qin dynasty terra cotta warriors on display at the Houston Museum of Natural Science though Oct. 18. Courtesy photos
each figure and artifact that is not provided anywhere else and gives insight into the history and social order of China at the time. The exhibit, located on the second level of the museum, begins with a kneeling archer warrior, surrounded by weapons of the era. The warrior is in near perfect condition. Being crafted from clay somewhere between 221 and 206 B.C., the figure and its stunning detail has been preserved in the earth for more than 2,000 years. The warrior’s bow and perhaps other weapons are believed to have been looted or recycled over the years, but his heavy armor, crafted from overlapping panels of clay, remains a testament to the skill of the Qin craftsmen. Down to the souls of the warrior’s feet, the workers accounted for every painstaking detail. On the walls of the museum hang photos of the site where the artifacts were found, factual and historical information, maps, paintings and other materials that contribute to the experience. A large photo of the dig site shows just how huge an endeavor the project was. The site in Xi’an consists of three finished pits containing artifacts. Each pit is between 15 and 20 feet underground with special supports and roofing to conceal its location. A fourth pit
See WARRIORS on page 11
