Pollen clue to origins of China's 'terracotta army'

Ancient pollen could lead scientists to the kilns where the figures in China's terracotta army were made.

The 2,200-year-old clay army of 8,000 soldiers, 300 horses and 200 chariots guards the tomb of Qin Shihuang, the first emperor of China.

Soils from different regions contain distinct pollen "signatures", reflecting variations in vegetation.

This could help solve the mystery of where the clay figures were made, says the Journal of Archaeological Science.