|
The small signs (59 in number) are bored holes (not quite through the shell), one type oval and the other a little circle. The holes are grouped symmetrically and there are 29 on one side of the horizontal axis, 30 on the other. It seems that the two groups of holes (29 + 30) are sorted into four subgroups: 1 + 1 + 11 + 16 (17). And one of these groups (2nd from left) evidently is the connecting point between the two sides. I don't know whether the squiggly lines are natural or a result of human action. But the holes seems to be made as if the lines were there already, i.e. probably the lines are natural. The holes were drilled before the turtle shell was heated in order to crack and give information about future events. Let's compare this Chinese map with that in Mamari.
|
