Crossbow with string first found at Terracotta Warriors site  

秦兵马俑考古首次发现清晰弓弦 秦弓弩可获复原

                    (Photo source: chinanews.com)

Xi'an (CNS) – A relatively complete crossbow with bowstring has been excavated from Pit One of the Terracotta Warriors site, making it the first time that archaeologists have discovered a clearly visible bowstring.

Pit One has been in its third excavation since June 2009, after a 20-year suspension.

The bowstring, 0.8 centimeters in diameter, might be made with a tendon of some animal, according to the Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum on Feb 26.

Shen Maosheng, chief archeologist in charge of Pit One, said an intact arrow was also discovered in the pit, and a colored drawing on it still can be recognized.

Experts believe a copy of the crossbow can be restored on the base of these findings, and the range of the crossbow can be estimated as well, which is an important factor to evaluate the military power of the Qin Dynasty.

On June 9, 2012, archeologists released some 310 pieces of findings from their third excavation of Pit One.

About 600 pits and tombs have been discovered in the area of Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site so far.