January
20
/ 2026
A suit of “golden armor” once known mostly from Tang-era poetry has now been reconstructed as a complete set—marking the first time researchers say the rare gilded bronze armor has been restored in full. The conservation team spent around four years stabilizing and digitally reconstructing hundreds of fragile fragments recovered from a royal tomb on China’s northwestern plateau, reports The Independent. The armor was unearthed from Xuewei No. 1 Tomb in Dulan County, Qinghai Province, during excavations that began in 2018. When archaeologists opened the burial, the remains of bronze plates and associated equestrian gear were badly disturbed and corroded, making physical handling risky. Ancient Chinese Paper Armor Was Tougher Than Steel The Tang Dynasty: The Arts Flourished and a
