The Ritual Use of Animal Scapulae in Central Asia in the Xiongnu-Xianbei-Rouran Period

ABSTRACT

The scapula bone is bestowed with a particular prominence among the various traditional Siberian tribes. Besides its rich symbolic importance, the shoulder blade is connected with shamanistic rituals and in particular, fortunetelling. Scapulimancy (telling fortunes from the scapula) is a tradition with its roots in ancient China. Historical chronicles and ethnographic research on scapulimancy in Central Asia had led archaeologists to assign a ritual meaning to scapulae with regular perforations. This paper is to present the problematic matter of distinction of fortunetelling scapulae in the archaeological material. Another aim is to sum up historical and ethnographic data regarding scapulimancy. A comprehensive approach to this topic was also provided by microscopic observations on the materials from the settlement Chultukov Log-9 (Altai, Russian Federation), dated back to the Xiongnu-Xianbei-Rouran period. Excavations were conducted by the authors of this paper in 2012–2016. Experiments were also conducted in order to distinguish shoulder blades of utilitarian character (tools) from those of ritual use. In general, this issue shows the importance of animal symbolism in crucial matters for pastoral, nomadic and semi-nomadic peoples.

KEYWORDS:

• Xiongnu-Xianbei-Rouran
• Southern Siberia
• scapulimancy
• oracle scapulae
• foretelling bones
• use-wear analysis
• Altai

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by a grant received from the Polish National Centre of Science, program SONATINA 2 The excavations in the Siberian ‘Valley of Kings’ and the early Scythian period in Central Asia (grant number: UMO-2018/28/C/HS3/00244) and NIR IAET SB RAS «Study, preservation and museumification of the archaeological and ethno-cultural heritage of Siberia conservation strategies» 0264-2021-0008.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Polish National Centre of Science: [Grant Number UMO-2018/28/C/HS3/00244] and NIR IAET SB RAS: [Grant Number 0264-2021-0008].

Notes on contributors

Krzysztof Michalczewski

Krzysztof Michalczewski PhD student at the Jagiellonian University in Cracow, his PhD thesis focuses on the worked bones from Southern Siberia in Xiongnu-Xianbei-Rouran period. In his studies he combines traceology, experimental archaeology, ethographical and archaeological data to reconstruct the possible funtion of the bone tools.

Andriey P. Borodovskiy

Andriey P. Borodovskiy Leader Researcher, Doctor of Sciences in Historical Sciences, Docent. Researcher at the Institute of Archeology and Ethography, SB RAS (Novosibirsk). Since 1989 has headed the Central Altai archaeological field team; carried out research in Northern Kulunda, Upper Ob, Middle Yenisey and Katun river basin.

Łukasz Oleszczak

Łukasz Oleszczak PhD - archaeologist-scythologist, an employee of the Institute of Archeology, Jagiellonian University, Cracow. His main scientifc interest is the culture of Southern Siberia nomads of the Iron Age. Since 2012 he conducts archeological excavations in Altai and Tuva.