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How old are the earliest known skillfully carved ivory objects from Shang dynasty China?
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ivory carving
Kinugumiut Inupiat incised walrus ivory shaman's figure, c. 1890; in the National Museum of the American Indian, George Gustav Heye Center, Smithsonian Institution, New York City.
The earliest known skillfully carved ivory objects from the Shang dynasty date back to the period of the dynasty's rule, which is generally identified as approximately 1600 to 1046 BCE.12
These artifacts have been discovered in the tombs of Shang kings. The high level of design and execution found in these pieces suggests that the craft had already undergone a long period of development, likely originating in prehistoric times. In addition to ivory, Shang artisans also utilized carved bone and jade, often incorporating materials like turquoise for inlay, to create a variety of funerary objects.12