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This is a photo from 1974 when the first extensive collection of Terracotta warriors was first discovered in Xi"an, Shaanxi, China…

The photo is remarkable because it reveals the original bright colours that were painted onto these life-size clay warriors more than 2,000 years ago by skilled artisans.

Unfortunately, when they were exposed to air and sunlight during the excavation, the colours began to curl up almost immediately and disappeared within minutes.

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