Excavation of the Terracotta Guardian Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, near Xian (Sian), China. Qin Shi Huang was king of the Chinese State of Qin from 247 BCE to 221 BCE and became the first emperor of a unified China in 221 BCE, ruling until his death in 210 BCE. He was buried in his mausoleum with a terracotta army of over 8000 soldiers, 130 chariots, 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses. They were intended to help Qin Shi rule another empire in the afterlife. The army was discovered in 1974 by local farmers who were drilling for water. The place is now a major archaeological site and tourist attraction.