Investigating the tool marks on oracle bones inscriptions from the Yinxu site (ca., 1319–1046 BC), Henan province, China

A study of oracle bone inscriptions from the Yinxu site, dating to the late Shang dynasty (ca. 1319–1046 BC), reveals two distinct carving techniques used by ancient scribes: direct carving and 'outlining design.' The latter involved engraving a draft outline before refining it into formal characters, likely as a method to minimize errors. Microscopic analysis of tool marks on tortoise shell surfaces shows that strokes were engraved from top to bottom with pointed tools, ruling out the use of rotary wheel-cutting tools due to the ruggedness of groove bottoms and neatness of edges. The findings suggest that scribes employed sharp, precise instruments, possibly metal, for engraving, providing new insights into the craftsmanship and techniques of early Chinese writing systems.

Zhao, X., Tang, J., Gu, Z., Shi, J., Yang, Y., & Wang, C. (2016). Investigating the tool marks on oracle bones inscriptions from the Yinxu site (ca., 1319–1046 BC), Henan province, China. Microscopy Research and Technique, 79(9), 827–832. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/jemt.22705