# Study of 79 prints on 36 terracotta figures indicates work by women and youth

- Published: 2026-11-06 12:40 UTC
- Section: Science › Research
- Tags: terracotta army prints, ancient fingerprint analysis, qin shi huang mausoleum, archaeological ridge density, terracotta artisans
- URL: https://realtech.media/news/rt-9cbb55b34eed7b5849702e09_study_of_79/

**Analysis of clay impressions from Qin Shi Huang's complex indicates varied labor participation, challenging assumptions of an all-male adult workforce.**

![Study of 79 prints on 36 terracotta figures indicates work by women and youth](https://sgzwpqqelzmajkcubgkl.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/rt-media/2026/11/13ef282cd9b8ab83.jpg)
*catracalivre.com.br*

Archaeologists analyzed 79 distinct impressions preserved across 36 statues from the Terracotta Army, as reported by catracalivre.com.br. Farmers originally discovered the complex in 1974 while digging a well, revealing clay figures crafted for the mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang [1]. By evaluating ridge density on clay surfaces that hardened after contact, a probabilistic model associated approximately 45% of the analyzed marks with adult men, 32.7% with adult women, and 22.3% with youth under 15 years of age [1].

## Morphometric analysis of clay ridges

The research relied on epidermal ridge density variations that statistically differentiate population groups [1]. Because ridge values can overlap across demographics, researchers applied statistical modelling rather than individual nominal identification to evaluate the assemblage [1]. Variables such as clay shrinkage during drying and the natural preservation quality of impressions introduce technical uncertainty, requiring comparisons with reference data [1].

## Sample limits and labor distribution

The analyzed marks originate from a specific unit within a single pit rather than the entire archaeological site [1]. Researchers emphasize that mark counts do not directly correspond to an exact head count of workers, total hours worked, or assigned specialized roles [1]. A single artisan could contact multiple pieces or leave several prints on one segment during assembly [1]. The findings provide statistical evidence of demographic diversity among laborers in the examined unit without defining the social status, wages, or voluntary nature of their involvement [1].

## Sources

1. [catracalivre.com.br](https://catracalivre.com.br/noticias/arqueologos-estudam-digitais-deixadas-em-36-soldados-de-terracota-com-mais-de-2-mil-anos-e-descobrem-indicios-de-que-mulheres-e-adolescentes-tambem-ajudaram-a-construir-o-exercito-chines)

---

Source: RealTech, realtech.media — https://realtech.media/news/rt-9cbb55b34eed7b5849702e09_study_of_79/