more: Xu said the army officer was found lying on its stomach behind four chariots, and was largely intact compared with other newly-discovered warriors, according to Xinhua.

“The original colors have faded after more than 2,000 years of decay, but a corner of the officer's robe suggested it was in colors other than the grey-ish clay,” he said.

The latest excavation is the third in the site's largest pit — one of three open to the public — since 1974 when the army of terracotta warriors and horses was discovered by a peasant digging a well.

Up to 5,000 more life-size figures are believed to still be buried in the pit and awaiting excavation.

The Terracotta Army is one of the greatest archaeological finds of modern times, and was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1987.