Recent archaeological research unveiled new insights into the origins of the mercury found in the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, China’s first emperor. According to HeritageDaily, scientists now believe that the mercury may originate from cinnabar mines in Xunyang, a region holding about 20% of China’s total mercury reserves and located just over 100 kilometers from the mausoleum.
The tomb of Qin Shi Huang, located in the Lintong District of Xi’an, China, has fascinated researchers and historians for centuries. Most of what is known about the tomb’s interior comes from the Records of the Grand Historian by Sima Qian, who describes mercury being used to depict the hundred rivers, including the Yangtze, Yellow River, and the great sea, all beneath a representation of the celestial constellations.
Qin Shi Huang, who reigned from 221 to 210 BCE, is famous for unifying China and initiating the construction of the Great Wall of China. During his lifetime, he became obsessed with achieving immortality and sought the elusive elixir of life. GEO France notes that “Qin Shi Huang’s obsession with immortality ultimately led to his downfall.” Many historians believe that he died from long-term mercury poisoning caused by consuming an elixir containing mercury, which weakened his central nervous system and caused damage to his brain and liver.
In 2016, a study was conducted around the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor to detect mercury levels. The study revealed high concentrations reaching 27 nanograms per cubic meter, exceeding the typical background levels of 5 to 10 nanograms per cubic meter in the area. These elevated mercury concentrations support historical accounts of the tomb containing large amounts of mercury.
Archaeologists traced paths leading to ancient extraction sites in Xunyang, including Shimiaogou, Chuantangping, and Guojiawan. These sites have a mining and trade history, revealing evidence of cinnabar mining and processing activities that date back centuries.
“Researchers are convinced that the discovery of rich cinnabar deposits and over 1,000 ancient extraction wells in Xunyang are key clues to elucidate, to some extent, the mystery of the mercury hidden within the tomb,” reports HeritageDaily. The Chuantangping and Guojiawan sites, located along transportation routes outside the mining area, also yielded artifacts related to cinnabar mining, processing, transportation, and trade from the pre-Qin and Han periods.
While some of the statues in the tomb, such as the famed Terracotta Warriors guarded by over 8,000 figures, have been unearthed and restored, the tomb itself has not yet been excavated. Experts remain cautious about obstacles, including the potential toxicity of mercury suspected to be present in large quantities inside the tomb. GEO France notes that “archaeologists fear that once the tomb is opened, the precious artifacts it may contain will be irreparably degraded, as was the case for the terracotta warriors of the burial pits, which lost their colors after exhumation.”
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.
This article was originally published at www.jpost.com
Author
