Shang Dynasty Secrets: Oracle Bones, Human Sacrifice & Bronze Warfare

Part 1: Oracle Bone Discoveries
Excavations of oracle bones continue to this day, with occasional breakthroughs. Take this pit of oracle bones, for example—a significant archaeological find from 2004, uncovered under my leadership as excavation team leader. Notice two key features: First, the bones were found concentrated in a single pit. Second, they’re all large fragments.

Here, you’ll see ox scapulae (shoulder blades), with one particularly intriguing piece—a turtle plastron (undershell)—pressed beneath them. But what you’re looking at is actually the reverse side of that plastron. The real mysteries lie in the markings on the back, which I’ll explain shortly.

Part 2: The Transition from Human Sacrifice
Few realize that China’s cultural shift away from mass human sacrifice occurred during the Western Zhou dynasty. Archaeological evidence shows rare instances of ritual killings in early Western Zhou tombs—occasional at first, then virtually nonexistent.

But in Shang dynasty burials? A different story entirely. Open any noble’s tomb, and you’ll often find sacrificial victims. Even modest graves might hold multiple bodies. As an archaeologist, confronting these remains—evidence of systematic violence from three millennia ago—never fails to unsettle me. Today, I’ll shed light on this dark chapter of our past.

Part 3: Shang Warfare and Weaponry
So how did the Shang wage war? Let’s examine their arsenal. First, consider this symbolic depiction (top-left): A warrior grips a ge-dagger axe in his right hand and a shield in his left.

Now, the physical evidence. During one tomb excavation, we uncovered a burial corridor lined with bronze artifacts—some ritual vessels for food and wine, others far deadlier. Look closer: The upper layer contained clusters of weapons—spears, dagger-axes—stacked like harvest sheaves. These weren’t ceremonial displays but tools of organized violence.