Archaeologists Stunned To Discover An Emperor Obsessed With Immortality Possibly Used Mercury to Prolong His Life

The mausoleum of the first Qin emperor in China has always been an object of intrigue for researchers. It is because of the elements they observed in Qin Shi Huang's tomb at Xunyang City, in Ankang, Shaanxi province. For long experts have been trying to understand the reason behind the uncanny composition inside the mausoleum. Recently, after a series of analyses, they concluded the origin of one of the components, stated Archaeology Magazine.

A fascinating element that researchers in 2016 observed in the mausoleum was mercury. The finding was alluring because it aligned with what was described regarding the establishment in historical records written by Chinese historian, Sima Qian. The records claimed that the interior of the tomb contained a map representing China's seas and rivers with the help of liquid mercury. The element also had an association with Qin Shi Huang's life. He allegedly became obsessed with immortality and one of the ways he tried to prolong his life involved mercury, stated The Jerusalem Post. This pursuit turned out to be fatal as the method possibly led to long-term mercury poisoning resulting in his death.

Since noticing a more than-normal mercury composition inside the emperor's tomb (27 nanograms per cubic meter), experts have been trying to detect its origins. Recent archaeological surveys at Xunyang City have located three ancient cinnabar sites Shimiaogou, Chuantangping, and Guojiawan. These sites are located just 100 kilometers away from the tomb. Cinnabar has been identified as a mercuric sulfide ore, which was mined and smelted in ancient times. Chen Shibin, deputy director of the Xunyang Cultural Relics Management Office, claimed that the three sites will give them essential clues in figuring out the reason behind increased mercury levels inside the tomb.

All three sites had some evidence of mining, as per archaeologists. The Shimiaogou site was situated near the Xunyang Qingtonggou cinnabar mining area and contained artifacts related to mining and processing. Researchers also noted cultural relics belonging to various periods at the site. Some objects unearthed from the place included Neolithic basket-motif ceramic sherds and Qin Dynasty rope-motif roofing tiles. These findings ensured experts that the site was a prominent fixture for mining during the pre-Qin and Han periods. In the Chuantangping and Guojiawan sites, researchers noted signs of cinnabar transportation from the mines. The team observed things like fired clay blocks, perforated stones, and sand-tempered red pottery at these locations which indicated that an extensive trading network was in place for mercury in ancient times. These findings made researchers conclude that mercury mining has been thriving in the area for centuries.

The region holds 20% of China's total mercury reserves, as per researchers. The findings indicate that the ancient population used this abundance and applied their intellect to inculcate this element in avenues like architecture. The proximity between the tomb and the three sites implied to researchers that the mercury possibly came from these places. It showcased that architects employed early mining technology and networks in place to facilitate monumental construction.