A peek behind the masks

From 2019 to 2020, six more pits (No 3 to No 8)-ranging from 3.5 square meters to 19 square meters-were found near the original pair and, since October, about 500 artifacts have been unearthed in an ongoing detailed excavation.

As soon as the discovery was announced by Lei's team in Chengdu, Sichuan's provincial capital, on Saturday, China's social media was abuzz with public enthusiasm.

"Thanks to a well-planned project, we will have more findings," Lei says. "They're just so important, and people are eager to know what is buried underground, but we have to follow certain steps and take a scientific approach."

Lei's team has already uncovered a long list of possible national treasures and, while the bulk of the current findings have mainly come from pits 3, 4 and 5, the tips of some objects have begun to peek through the dirt in the other three.

A gold mask unearthed from No 5 pit, sporting similar exotic features to those of the previously unearthed bronze face masks, is one of the highlights of the newly-excavated items. Bronze masks and divine trees continue to appear, along with more than 100 ivory tusks. Charred sculptures and jade may add further proof to archaeologists' speculation as to the sacrificial status of the pits.