The Terracotta Warriors Museum in Dorchester, Dorset, United Kingdom | Museum

Welcome to The Terracotta Warriors Museum in Dorchester, United Kingdom, and view the stunning exhibition of The First Emperor's Terracotta Warriors. This small but inspiring exhibition on the Terracotta Warriors of the First Emperor of China's famous Terracotta Army brings together all the wonder of the discovery of these amazing treasures of ancient China.
The terracotta warriors were created by the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang di pronounced - Chin Shi Huang di. This amazing but meglomaniac man conquered and united China from a collection of warring states to become its First Emperor. He built the Great Wall and amassed great works of art. Obsessed with a quest for the secret of immortality, 70,000 workers built his tomb said to be filled with legendary treasures. His 3000 wives and concubines followed him to the grave.
Over 8000 fantastic life-size clay warriors protected his tomb. The Famous Terracotta Army is now referred to as the eighth wonder of the ancient world. The exhibition at The Terracotta Warriors Museum in Dorchester features a small but spectacular group of these warriors, which have been specially replicated by Museum and conservation technicians in China, and skilled craftsmen and specialists of World Heritage.
The terracotta army was discovered by accident in 1974 at Xian, in China, when local farmers digging a well broke into a pit containing 6000 life-size terracotta figures. Excavation in 1976 revealed two further pits both filled with terracotta warriors. On the eastern side of the tomb a number of small pits have been found containing the bones of horses and smaller size terracotta figures of grooms. Since then discoveries have continued to be made at the site and to date the remains of nearly 8000 terracotta figures have been recovered.
There has been worldwide fascination in the discovery of the Terracotta Army and it is now regarded as the 8th Wonder of the Ancient World.
Technicians and craftsmen have used the same techniques and skills to re-create the majority of the warriors for The Terracotta Warriors Museum, which form the highlight of the exhibition. The figures made in this way are in all respects identical to the originals having been made near the Emperor's tomb in the same clay and fired in the same way as the originals. The warriors stand up to 2 metres tall and weigh up to 300 kilograms.
The terracotta warriors featured on our display comprise of various types including crossbowmen, a charioteer, an officer and a general. The whole group of terracotta army is extremely impressive with audio programmes bring the discovery to life.