What's hidden in the tomb of China's first emperor? Unopened for over 2,000 years.

2,200 years ago, the first emperor of China died. He was buried in the Lintong district of Xian, guarded by the world's most famous Terracotta Army, which had been created to protect him. Some things have happened since then, but others remain, as the tomb has been sealed all this time, its secrets and hidden treasures still waiting to be discovered.

The reason why archaeologists are afraid to open his tomb is peculiar : they believe it might contain dangerous traps, and the reason behind this is that Sima Qian, an ancient Chinese historian, wrote about a century after the emperor's death an account in which he described the possible presence of "booby traps" inside the tomb.

The tomb itself was discovered in 1974 by local farmers. This was the moment when the impressive Terracotta Army , composed of thousands of clay soldiers , horses, and chariots, was revealed. It is believed that they were meant to guard the emperor's journey to the afterlife, in true Egyptian pharaoh style.

According to Caliber , despite extensive excavations around the site, the central chamber remains intact, and archaeologists have so far refrained from opening his tomb out of a mix of caution and respect. According to a 2020 study published in Nature , concerns stem from both Sima Qian's ancient texts and modern science, which have contributed to the reluctance.

One of the most chilling features of the tomb is the alleged use of mercury in its design.

Sima Qian's accounts describe, among the numerous booby traps within the tomb, crossbows and arrows designed to automatically fire at any intruder. Although they may have deteriorated over time , the risk of open traps remains a significant concern .

And science has only exacerbated these fears. One of the tomb's most chilling features is believed to be the alleged use of mercury in its design. Ancient records suggest that mercury was used to simulate the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, creating a deadly liquid environment within the tomb.

It's true that some scientists had dismissed the stories as exaggerated or fantastic, but in the 2020 study It was concluded that mercury concentrations near the tomb are significantly higher than expected, raising questions about the accuracy of the descriptions. Probably because of these potential dangers, no one has dared to loot the tomb, which is believed to have contained priceless treasures such as gold, jade, and ceremonial objects.