The mysterious bones used to predict the future
There was minimal physical evidence of China’s Shang Dynasty until animal bones with precisely cracked messages were discovered. Dating back to at least 1600 B.C., the bones were used by trusted diviners to relay ancestral prophecies to members of the royal family. Hundreds of years later, dedicated historians translate the ancient predictions and try to reconstruct cracks of their own.
In Harry Potter: A History of Magic, author JK Rowling reveals the ancient artefacts that inspired the enchanting world of Harry Potter, including the ancient Chinese oracle bones found at the British Library.
Watch the full documentary on BBC Select.
