The Terracotta Army, one of the world's most astonishing archaeological wonders, was first uncovered in 1974 by local farmers near Xi'an, China.

This discovery unfolded like a scene from an ancient epic, transforming everyday well-digging into a portal to China's Qin Dynasty past.

Discovery Story

In March 1974 , farmers in Xiyang Village, Lintong District, faced a drought and began digging a well about 1.5 km east of Emperor Qin Shi Huang's tomb mound. Yang Zhifa, leading a team of nine including his five brothers and neighbor Wang Puzhi, struck something hard on the fifth day—first mistaking it for an iron block, then unearthing terracotta fragments resembling life-sized warrior heads and bronze arrowheads. Yang reported it to local authorities, sparking official excavations that revealed over 8,000 soldiers, horses, and chariots buried to guard the first emperor in the afterlife.

"It's widely known that terracotta warriors were discovered by local farmers during well-digging."

Key Figures

  • Yang Zhifa (Primary Discoverer) : The farmer whose hoe made initial contact; he met U.S. President Bill Clinton in 1998 and became the museum's honorary curator, often signing visitor books today.
  • Zhao Kangmin (Recognizer & Protector, 1936-2018): Lintong Museum curator who raced to the site, restored two 1.78m warrior figures, identified them as Qin Dynasty relics tied to Emperor Qin Shi Huang, and named them "Warrior Figures of Qin Dynasty"—earning credit as the expert "discoverer."

Figure| Role| Key Contribution| Fun Fact
---|---|---|---
Yang Zhifa 13| Farmer-Leader| Physical find during well-digging| Met world leaders; still active at museum in 2026
Zhao Kangmin 17| Archaeologist| Identification, restoration, naming| Kept secret initially amid Cultural Revolution 10

Historical Context

Created around 210 BCE, the army reflects Qin Shi Huang's quest for immortality, with each figure uniquely crafted—infantrymen, archers, cavalry, and generals in battle formation across three vast pits. Earlier locals had glimpsed similar figures but discarded them, unaware of their value, delaying global fame until 1974. Pits 2 and 3 followed, with the unexcavated emperor's tomb nearby holding mercury "rivers."

Multiple Viewpoints

  • Farmer Narrative : Pure serendipity by humble villagers, celebrated in media as "accidental heroes."
  • Archaeological View : Zhao Kangmin's expertise turned fragments into a UNESCO treasure (listed 1987), emphasizing scientific validation over the "strike."
  • Local Lore : Some recall pre-1974 finds smashed unknowingly; Reddit historians note no prior detailed knowledge of the army existed.

Recent Buzz (as of Feb 2026)

No major new finds, but 50th anniversary coverage in 2024 highlighted Yang's story, with YouTube shorts going viral on the "greatest 20th-century discovery." Trending forums echo the farmer-expert duo, safe speculation: Ongoing digs might reveal more pits amid tourism booms.

TL;DR: Yang Zhifa's team physically discovered it; Zhao Kangmin made it legendary—both pivotal in unearthing Qin Shi Huang's eternal guard.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.