Qin Shihuang took great pains in thwarting grave robbers. According to the Historical Records
, the underground palace "ordered craftsmen to make bows and arrows with which to shoot any intruders", referring to a series of hidden automatic crossbows. If the record is accurate, this was the earliest automatic anti-theft device in China. It is a great puzzle how such advanced automatic weapons could have been made over 2200 years ago.

Mystery 8: Are the remains of Qin Shihuang well preserved?

The 1972 discovery of a remarkably well-preserved 2,000-year-old woman in a Mawangdui Han tomb in Changsha City stunned the world. The corpse still had hair, its joints were flexible and the soft organs were still soft. Various techniques were used during her burial to ensure she would remain in a life-like state, including burying the coffin very deeply and sealing it tightly so that the coffin lacked oxygen needed by bacteria. Scholars speculate whether the body of Qin Shihuang is also this well preserved.

The Qin dynasty probably also had anti-decomposition (corrosive refers to metals) technology for protecting human remains. Qin Shihuang died during the hot season on an inspection tour of China. After traveling for over 50 days, his body arrived at Xianyang, Shaanxi Province in September. In total two months passed from the time of his death to his burial. Modern experts say Qin Shihuang's body had probably decomposed beyond recognition during its long journey back to Xianyang, making it very unlikely that Qin Shihuang's corpse is well preserved today.

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