Pit #1 of the terracotta army—the guardians of the afterlife for China’s first emperor—was last excavated in June 1987. Since then the pit had been untouched for 22 years. In the vast arched hall, the soldiers and horses that are already excavated stand covered with dust, patiently awaiting the day when more of their compatriots are found. Who knows how many more earthen figurines lie buried in the ground beneath?

At the same time, the veteran archaeological team of the terracotta army museum has seen little action since the excavation of Pit #2 came to a halt in 1998. Some of the team remained to perform administrative duties, others went on to pursue their doctorates, while some were seconded to other archaeological work in the field. These archaeologists were eager to explore the treasures that lay hidden right under their noses, but they did not possess the power to call for further excavations. In fact, they were even unsuccessful in getting an excavation permit from the State Administration of Cultural Heritage.

AN UNFINISHED BUSINESS
“Pit #1 is like an unfinished building… just the sight of it makes one anxious,” says Xu Weihong, the executive leader of the museum’s archaeological team. Applications to commence excavation projects have always been a headache for the museum. The State Administration of Cultural Heritage requires an excavation unit to have at least four “qualified archaeological personnel” before it can apply for an excavation permit, but for some reason it has repeatedly denied Xu’s team, despite their vast experience.