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

Abstract

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.