Chinese bone inscriptions discovered to be 1000 yrs older than previous finding

New Delhi, Jan 26 (ANI): Recently discovered bone inscriptions in a province in China have been analyzed to be approximately 1000 years older than those found in another area in the country, which indicates the new finding to be the oldest record of Chinese language.

The Changle inscriptions were found in Weifang city of Shandong Province in China.

According to Professor Liu Fengjun, doctoral supervisor in art and archaeology at Shandong University, the markings on Changle bones represent some kind of original characters of Chinese language approximately 1000 years older than those found in Yinxu.

Yinxu is a world-famous site in China for its unearthed oracle bone inscriptions originated in Shang Dynasty (1,600 - 1,046 BCE), which is generally recognized as the earliest record of Chinese language.

Hence, the discovery of Changle bone inscriptions may have far-reaching implications.

Changle is thought to contain an ancient site of the Longshan Culture (about 2,800 - 2,300 BCE).

On top of the 100-odd pieces of the said Changle bones, people also have excavated some bone knives, bone stabbers, pieces of black earthenware and pieces of an ancient cooking vessel, all of which are typical of Longshan Culture.

Professor Liu believes that the signs on the Changle bones are some records of the important events in Dongyi people's life.

The Dongyi people was the most developed civilization in ancient China before they were conquered by the Xia Dynasty (2,070 - 1,600 BCE).

Changle bone inscriptions preserve some information about hunting, totem, and harvests of the Dongyi people, Professor Liu explained.

There are quite a few signs of animals and birds. Signs of dears, elephants, buffalos and birds are common on Changle Bones, he added.

According to Professor Liu, Changle bone inscriptions are closely related to the Yinxu Oracle Bone Inscriptions of Shang Dynasty.

Having compared Yinxu oracle bone inscriptions with Changle bone inscriptions, Professor Liu has found that some characters of the two kinds of inscriptions are quite similar.

Many experts agree with Liu's theories and are thrilled by the possibility of rewriting the history of ancient Chinese characters as a result of the excavation of Changle bone inscriptions. (ANI)