China finds secret tomb chamber
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The chamber is close to the tomb's terracotta
warriors
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A mysterious underground chamber has been found inside
the Chinese imperial tomb guarded by the famous Terracotta
Army, Chinese archaeologists say.
Historical records describing the tomb of Qin Shihuang,
the first emperor of China's Qin dynasty, do not mention the
room which is 30 metres (98 feet) deep.
The unopened chamber was found at the site near the old
imperial capital of Xian using remote sensing technology.
One expert says it may have been built for the soul of
the emperor.
More than 2,000 years old, the chamber is buried inside a
pyramidal earth mound 51m (170 feet) high on top of Qin's
tomb.
It is situated near the life-size terracotta warriors and
has four stair-like walls, says Duan Qingbo, a researcher
with the Shaanxi Institute of Archaeology.
The Chinese authorities have not given permission to
excavate the site.
It is believed that they wish to perfect archaeological
techniques before probing any further, and archaeologists
have had to use the sensing technology at the site since
2002.
Despite his brutal methods, Emperor Qin is remembered as
a hero in China for forging a unified state.
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Article Source. www.bbc.co.uk
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