Shang Dynasty (16-11th century BCE)

This is a copy of a real “dragon bone,” a medicinal potion used by Chinese doctors for centuries; but actually an ancient tortoise shell inscribed with some of the earliest writing in history. In 1899 CE, an old Mandarin named Wang Yi Rong looked at his medicine in great astonishment, as what he saw were pieces of bone and tortoise shell resembling writing. Thus were the oracle bones discovered. In the next forty years some 150,000 pieces of shells and bones were recovered, revealing the some of the most ancient writing in existence.