Human Sacrifices Found at Ancient China Complex
Ancient Psychic Shell?
A broken tortoise shell found at the Luoyang excavation site was likely used for psychic practices thousands of years ago.
Not much is known about tortoise-shell divination during the Western Zhou period, Sena said, but during the preceding Shang dynasty, the process involved heating the shell and interpreting the cracks that formed.
"Holes are bored in the back of the shell to make it easier to crack during the divination process," Sena explained.
"Someone then 'reads' the cracks. We don't know how exactly—it may be the shape of the crack or the sound it makes when it's heated," he added.
"The diviner would ask a question and the crack provided an answer."
(Also see "Delphic Oracle's Lips May Have Been Loosened by Gas Vapors.")
Published June 15, 2010
