Year-ender: Top 10 cultural events from 2017

5. Oracle bones added to UNESCO world memory register

Chinese oracle-bone inscriptions were included in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register this year. Oracle-bone inscriptions are the earliest documental evidence found in China, excavated from the Yin ruins in Anyang city, Central China's Henan province. These artifacts provide records of divinations and prayers to the gods from people in the late Shang Dynasty (c. 16th century-11th century BC). Over time, oracle-bone inscriptions developed into modern-day Chinese characters, showing the continuous evolution of Chinese civilization.

So far, China already has 10 examples of documentary heritage inscribed on the Memory of the World Register.