Updated: 2007-05-31 09:37

Scientists surmise that the horses were made near Qinshihuang's mausoleum in order to make transport easier and safer. The horses each weigh about 200 kg and are 2 meters long with delicate and fragile legs. The warriors each weigh 150 kg.

But the scientists still do not know where the warriors were made.

"This work may open a new trail for archaeologists in regard to ancient terracotta or pottery. The pollen can tell us things we want to know," Hu said in his article, "What can pollen grains tell us about terracotta?" which was posted on the website of the Journal of Archaeological Science in London.

Emperor Qinshihuang's mausoleum is located near Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province. The statues of warriors and horses were buried with the emperor more than 2,000 years ago. His mausoleum has never been excavated, but the life-size figures were unearthed from surrounding pits in the 1970s. Warriors and horses were believed to be built to safeguard him after his death.

Because of protection problems, only 1,500 terracotta warriors and horses have been unearthed, and nearly 6,000 items still lie buried in the dark soil.

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