An unusual discovery was made among the ranks of China's Terracotta Army: something was hidden within the cavalry.

Archaeologists excavating China's "Terracotta Army" have uncovered a rare life-sized statue of a high-ranking military officer, reports LiveScience.

In the mausoleum of Chinese Emperor Qin Shi Huang, a richly adorned figure was found, marking it as only the 10th of its kind among thousands of terracotta statues.

"The special decorations on the high-ranking officer indicate their significance. The style and color of the adornments reflect both aesthetic taste and social status," says archaeologist Xu Zhen Janis Li from the University of Oxford.

Next to the figure of the high-ranking military officer, remnants of two chariots, three clay horses, and two additional figures of Chinese soldiers were also discovered.

"The positioning of high-ranking officers in the military formation reflects military strategy, such as the command system during the Qin dynasty," adds Li.

Researchers first uncovered the Terracotta Army in 1974 while digging a well in northwestern China. This discovery initiated one of the largest archaeological finds of modern times. The army consists of thousands of life-sized terracotta figures arranged in three pits, dating back to the 3rd century BC.

Over the past 50 years, archaeologists have discovered around 2,000 terracotta warriors, but experts believe there could be up to 8,000 in total.

It is also noted that the military figures were buried with crossbows, spears, and swords. Historians believe that the entire terracotta army was created to protect the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, in the afterlife.

The newly found figure of the high-ranking military officer was located in Pit No. 2, which archaeologists believe houses the cavalry. Project leader Zhu Xihun stated that the terracotta officer is the first high-ranking individual discovered during the excavations.

Officers in the Chinese army were distinguished by their headgear, as well as their colorful and intricate armor. The arms of these statues are typically folded in front of them, and their shoulder guards and armor are adorned with ribbons.

But the main question remains whether archaeologists will be able to find the general who commanded the entire Terracotta Army.

Recall that a 16-ton tomb was excavated near the Terracotta Army. The excavation revealed an astonishing collection of funerary items, including weapons, armor, jade, gold and silver figurines of camels, kitchen utensils, and over 6,000 bronze coins.