Research of the Chinese burial site that houses the massive terra-cotta army turned up evidence suggesting people from the West arrived in the area 1,500 years earlier than believed.
1974 marked the discovery of the massive terra-cotta army that guards the tomb of China’s first emperor.
Research of the Xinjiang province site has been going on since and recently turned up compelling evidence that people from the West arrived in the area as early as the 3rd century BC, 1,500 years earlier than believed.
Evidence supporting the theory is based in both artistic style and scientific analysis.
The statues in the tomb are significantly larger than any art known to the area at that time.
Further, many bronze pieces with unique attributes were found in the burial complex as well.
Both indicate outside influence and, based on the artistic practices of contemporary civilizations, experts suggest that came via the Greeks.
On the scientific front, DNA taken from the statues is consistent with that of Europeans.
The findings are the subject of the upcoming documentary ‘China’s Megatomb Revealed,’ which will broadcast on the National Geographic Channel on October 23.
