The significance of the Warriors of Xi’an, how the mausoleum was constructed, who built it, the methods experts employ to tackle new questions, and how this ancient legacy is being examined today all come under scrutiny. International teams will gather today and tomorrow at MARQ to discuss the latest scientific advances related to the terracotta army. Some examples are currently on display at the Alicante museum. This gathering brings together researchers from China and Europe to explore ongoing questions and fresh evidence about the site and its artifacts, offering a clearer view of the monumental project carved into history.
Archaeologists, historians, museologists and researchers will share fresh discoveries from fieldwork and laboratory studies. The legacy of the Qin and Han dynasties continues to influence research across centuries and borders. This event marks a turning point in how the world understands ancient imperial power and its material remnants.
Juan de Dios Navarro, the Deputy for Culture, opens the meeting organized by the area he oversees, the CV MARQ Foundation. The event represents one of Spain’s first opportunities to publicly present recent discoveries on this subject in a modern museum setting. The Museum’s Meeting Hall hosts an extensive program under the theme of the Xi’an warriors and their legacy, combining science and archaeology to illuminate the burial complex of China’s first emperor and what that site reveals about ancient governance, military organization, and ritual practice.
Manuel Olcina, director of MARQ; Juan de Dios Navarro, Deputy for Culture; and Marcos Martínón-Torres, curator of the exhibition, are highlighted in a session celebrating the opening of the conference. The event brings together a committee of scholars and practitioners who contribute to a broader understanding of the topic. [citation: MARQ]
Among the speakers are renowned experts from the Emperor Qin Shihuang’s Mausoleum, the Shaanxi History Museum, the Shaanxi Archaeology Academy, Cambridge University in the United Kingdom, the Bavarian Archaeological Museum in Munich, Germany, and the University of London. These institutions have traveled to Alicante for the first time for this gathering, sharing insights from recent excavations, conservation work, and comparative studies with other imperial sites. [citation: MARQ]
Lesson and guided tour
Led by archaeologist Marcos Martínón-Torres, a professor at Cambridge University and the curator of the exhibit, the meeting features a formal lesson and a guided tour of the sample. This component is part of MARQ’s broader program designed to contextualize the exhibition Legacy of the Qin and Han dynasties in China. Xi’an warriors, currently on display at the Alicante museum, invite visitors to engage with the material record and the historical narrative behind the terracotta army, offering a tangible connection to ancient China for a contemporary audience. [citation: MARQ]