CHINA-SHAANXI-XI'AN-PAINTED TERRACOTTA WARRIORS-RESTORATION (CN)

(231008) -- XI'AN, Oct. 8, 2023 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on May 18, 2021 shows a piece of the painted Terracotta Warriors displayed at the Capital Museum in Beijing, capital of China. "We are the Terracotta Warriors specialists, and this room is a 'hospital' for the relics in the museum," said Lan Desheng, an expert in the restoration of cultural relics with the Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum. Archaeological research shows that pigments have been found on the Terracotta Warriors. The painted layers of the Terracotta Warriors are very fragile. Once unearthed, with the changes of humidity and temperature, the surface quickly dehydrates and the painted layer comes off. In addition, microorganisms, soluble salts and other factors also cause the color fading. According to Lan, shortly after unearthing, each painted Terracotta Warrior must go through X-ray detection, ultrasonic scanning, 3D images acquisition and other procedures. Staff members clean and restore the pieces of the painted Terraco