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The practice is said to have begun in North China in the 3rd millennium BCE; this is believed to be the earliest instance of such practices in the world. The practice reached its height in China under the [[Shang Dynasty]] in the mid-2nd millennium BCE, and continued into the [[Zhou Dynasty]], eventually dying out before the beginning of the Common Era. Meanwhile, similar practices emerged among other cultures around the world, some of whom continued to engage in such practices down into the 20th century; some groups may even continue such practices today.

The practice is said to have begun in North China in the 3rd millennium BCE; this is believed to be the earliest instance of such practices in the world. The practice reached its height in China under the [[Shang Dynasty]] in the mid-2nd millennium BCE, and continued into the [[Zhou Dynasty]], eventually dying out before the beginning of the Common Era. Meanwhile, similar practices emerged among other cultures around the world, some of whom continued to engage in such practices down into the 20th century; some groups may even continue such practices today.

Oracle bones discovered in archaeological excavations in China provide some of the earliest extant evidence of Chinese writing, law & governance, spiritual belief & practice, and culture otherwise. Some such bone and shell fragments feature the names of kings, kingdoms (states), or reign/era names.

Oracle bones were discovered in archaeological excavations in China beginning in [[1898]], and since then over 200,000 oracle bone fragments have been found,<ref>Conrad Schirokauer, et al, ''A Brief History of Chinese and Japanese Civilizations'', Fourth Edition, Cengage Learning (2012), 9.</ref> providing some of the earliest extant evidence of Chinese writing, law & governance, spiritual belief & practice, and culture otherwise. Some such bone and shell fragments feature valuable information such as the names of kings, kingdoms (states), and reign/era names.

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