Qin terra cotta warriors, China
The Qin Terra Cotta Warriors site near Xi'an city has nearly 8,000 life sized pottery warriors and horses in battle attire and formation. They had been buried for over 2,200 years. This terra cotta statuary is considered to be the most important archeological discovery of the 20th century.
The site was discovered accidentally in 1974 when local peasants were digging a well and came across pottery relics. Archaeologists quickly determined their ancient origin and began excavating the site.
The word Qin is pronounced ch'in.
The pottery warriors and horses (along with wooden chariots) were buried to protect the 3rd century BC Emperor Qin in his afterlife.
Emperor Qin is historically important because he was the first ruler to unite China.
The pottery human figures average 1.8 meters (six feet) in height. Their weight range is about 100 to 300 kilograms (220 to 660 pounds). The warrior statues are hand made and assembled in parts. The heads were the last to be attached and received the most artistic attention. Each warrior bears a unique facial expression, suggesting that live models were used.
So far, four underground vaults have been unearthed. The main vault is the largest and houses 6,000 life sized terra cotta warriors. Originally, they were colorfully painted. The underground combat-ready soldiers are accompanied by sculpted horses, chariots and more. Vault #2 is smaller with less statuary. Vault #3 is even smaller. Vault #4 was found empty.
The Ctesiphon Arch, Iraq
The Ctesiphon Arch was built built near Bagdad, Iraq, in 400 AD by the Parthian Persians and is shaped as a pure catenary*. It is claimed to be the largest single vault span of unreinforced brickwork in the world. The arch has a span of seventy-five feet and is about 110 feet high. It stands in the ancient city of Ctesiphon. Ctesiphon is a historically significant city that lies on the east bank of the Tigris River just south of Baghdad.
The Ctesiphon arch is a pointed ovoid peculiar to Mesopotamian architecture; it was built using unfired, thin mud bricks which were laid on a slant. This allowed the weight of the bricks to be transmitted to the side walls. The bricks fit perfectly into each other to form a true marvel of architecture.
* A catenary is the shape that is made when a chain hangs between two supports.
The Pyramids of Gizeh, Egypt
Taj Mahal
The Colosseum, Italy
Inca terracing and irrigation, Peru
- terracing, irrigation, subterranean canals, or Cuzco (choose)
The Great Wall, China <or ?>