Question

Oracle bones are bits of animal bone or turtle shell that tell historians a great deal about Ancient China. Which of the following best describes the significance of oracle bones?

A. They were used as a protection against evil spirits in folk traditions.
B. They represented the earliest known writing from Ancient China.
C. They depicted the ancient Chinese tendency to worship animals.
D. They told the story of the development of agriculture in China.

Answer 1

The significance of oracle bones lies in being the earliest known writing from Ancient China, where diviners etched questions onto animal bones or turtle shells for spiritual guidance on pressing matters of state and religious affairs.

Step-by-step explanation:

The oracle bones are a significant archaeological find that provide historians with insight into the earliest known writing from Ancient China. These artifacts were used by Shang dynasty diviners to pose questions to the spirits, usually regarding issues such as harvests, military campaigns, or the succession of heirs. The Shang dynasty's diviners would inscribe questions on animal bones or turtle shells, apply heat to cause them to crack, and then interpret the patterns for divination purposes. Later, these inscribed artifacts were recognized as the ancestors of modern Chinese characters, which played an essential role in the administrative and religious practices of the Shang society. As protection against doubt over the Shang dynasty's existence, these oracle bones served as concrete evidence of this ancient civilization's complexity and innovation in written communication.

Answer 2

From what I know from the Shang Dynasty I would have to say B.

most of the oracle bones were carved with writings and then heated to the point they would crack. Then someone would interpret what the cracks meant.

Hope this helps answering your question