Terracotta warriors fail to stop robbers breaking into royal Xian graves

CHINA has arrested nine people for robbing the graves of the ancestors of the First Emperor, whose huge tomb is guarded by the famed terracotta warriors.

Some of the excavated terracotta warriors guarding the royal tombs in Xian, China.

CHINA has arrested nine people for robbing the graves of the ancestors of the First Emperor, whose own huge tomb is guarded by the famed army of terracotta warriors in Xian.

The intrusion was discovered on October 8 during a routine patrol by guards from the Cultural Relics Bureau. They have the task of keeping watch on valuable graves around Xian, the ancient capital in northwestern China, that the country's archaeologists lack the resources to excavate.

Traces of new earth scattered over a mud seal blocking the entrance to one of the tombs alerted the patrol. Hacksaws and mobile phone covers were found nearby.

Two weeks later another patrol found walkie-talkies dropped near the entrance to the tomb and police were alerted.

They discovered a 70cm by 50cm hole opening into a 36m tunnel, where the robbers had left gloves, ropes and plastic pipes that they had apparently used as rudimentary breathing apparatus.

Experts then extended specially equipped video cameras into the hole to survey the interior of the tomb and were shocked to see that coffins of the royal occupants had been broken open and the contents tossed on to the ground. They described the damage as very serious.

Police rounded up nine suspects who confessed that they had used dynamite to blast the tunnel into the tomb. While digging towards the grave, the thieves noticed that parts of the roof had collapsed.

Concerned about a possible lack of oxygen if they delved farther, they demanded that the ringleader increase their wages. He agreed and they continued.

The grave robbers were so well-equipped that they had laid electricity cables along the tunnel and installed fans to pump air into the tomb.

A local newspaper said authorities had recovered a single relic, but gave no details. Other reports said that nothing had been found. The suspects denied taking anything from the tomb where King Zhuangxiang and his concubine, Lady Zhao, are believed to have been buried.

The king, who ruled one of many small states, died in 246BC at the age of 35 after a three-year reign. His son became king at the age of 13 and grew up to unite the Warring States in 221BC into a single kingdom.

The robbery of such a major tomb was so serious that the news was embargoed until officials had decided how to respond. Some suggested that the graves should be excavated to end the temptation for robbers, who have been busy for years across China digging out the many treasures that Beijing lacks the resources to protect.

Others demanded that the group of tombs, discovered in 1986 and covering 24 sq km, should be resealed.

The nearby mausoleum of the First Emperor, Qin Shi Huangdi, lies untouched, surrounded by trenches filled with hundreds, possibly thousands, of terracotta warriors, to protect their monarch in the afterlife.

The army has become one of the most popular tourist sites in China since it was found by farmers digging wells in 1974.

Officials insist they have no plans to explore that tomb for another century because of the cost of digging into the huge mound under which, according to legend, lie rivers of mercury and booby traps rigged with crossbows to deter intruders.

The emperor was famed for burning the country's books and burying alive scholars who owned forbidden tomes. He also standardised weights, measures, the Chinese currency and language. His resting place is believed to be relatively intact.