scapulae of sheep replica rolex watches

Wysłany: Pon 12:15, 21 Mar 2011

The oracle bones are mostly tortoise plastrons (ventral or belly shells, probably female[19]) and ox scapulae (shoulder blades),[link widoczny dla zalogowanych] although some are the carapace (dorsal or back shells) of tortoises, and a few are ox rib bones[20], scapulae of sheep, boars, horses and deer, and some other animal bones[21]. The skulls of deer, ox skulls and human skulls[22] have also been found with inscriptions on them, although these are very rare, and appear to have been inscribed for record-keeping or practice rather than for actual divination[23]; in one case inscribed deer antlers are reported, but Keightley (1978) reports that they are fake[24]. Neolithic diviners in China had long been heating the bones of deer, sheep, pigs and cattle for similar purposes; evidence for this in Liáoníng has been found dating to the late fourth millennium BCE[25]. However, over time, the use of ox bones increased, and use of tortoise shells does not appear until early Shāng culture. The earliest tortoise shells found that had been prepared for oracle bone use (i.e.,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], with chiseled pits) date to the earliest Shāng stratum at èrl?gāng (Zhèngzhoū, Hénán)[26]. By the end of the èrl?gāng the plastrons were numerous[27],[link widoczny dla zalogowanych] and at ānyáng scapulae and plastrons were used in roughly equal numbers[28]. Due to the use of these shells in addition to bones, early references to the oracle bone script often used the term 'shell and bone script', but since tortoise shells are actually a bony material, the more concise term "oracle bones" is applied to them as well.
The bones or shells were first sourced, and then prepared for use. Their sourcing is significant because some of them (especially many of the shells) are believed to have been presented as tribute to the Shāng, which is valuable information about diplomatic relations of the time. We know this because notations were often made on them recording their provenance (e.g. tribute of how many shells from where and on what date).
Scapula notations were near the socket or a lower edge. Some of these notations were not carved after being written with a brush, proving (along with other evidence) the use of the writing brush in Shāng times. Scapulae are assumed to have generally come from the Shāng’s own livestock, perhaps those used in ritual sacrifice,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych] although there are records of cattle sent as tribute as well, including some recorded via marginal notations[31].