<P> Oracle bones ( Chinese : 甲骨 ; pinyin : jiǎgǔ ) are pieces of ox scapula or turtle plastron , which were used for pyromancy -- a form of divination -- in ancient China , mainly during the late Shang dynasty . Scapulimancy is the correct term if ox scapulae were used for the divination ; plastromancy if turtle plastrons were used . </P>
what did the chinese use oracle bones for
pyromancy