This amazing artifact came from China. It is a fully articulated, anatomically correct, representation of a human skeleton carved entirely from nephrite (jade). Each bone comprising the skeleton is carved separately and expertly fitted one to another. The joints are presently articulated by the use of thin, rusted wire. Since the holes drilled into the nephrite for this purpose are much larger than the circumference of the wire, it is believed leather or sinew was originally used. Present research dates this artifact to be approximately 3,500 years old.
Each "bone" segment of the skeleton contains a cong (symbol) of the type pictured below.
This cong is similar to that on other Chinese artifacts representing a Shaman's mask.
The "bones" of the hands and feet are depicted in detail but do not articulate. This is also true of the spinal column and skull.
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