Tourist Leaps Into 18-Foot Pit, Damages 2,000-Year-Old Statues Before Being Apprehended

Two ancient Chinese terracotta warriors, surviving over 2,000 years, were damaged by a tourist who jumped into the exhibition pit to reach them. The 30-year-old visitor “climbed over the guardrail and the protective net” on Friday, then “pushed and pulled” the warriors, according to security officials. The tourist, deemed mentally ill, was stopped by security personnel. The terracotta army, consisting of 8,000 figures plus horses, was created around 209 BC to guard the tomb of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. The archaeological site has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987 and has been featured in traveling exhibitions, including several in the United States. A museum worker confirmed the site was open to the public on Saturday following the incident. (newser)