Final answer:
The technique of using oracle bones for divination was an important cultural and religious practice in Shang dynasty China, leading to the development of Chinese characters and heavily relying on archaeology for modern understanding.
Step-by-step explanation:
The practice described in the question, where priests inscribed questions on oracle bones and then heated them to interpret divine messages through the resulting cracks, is known as divination. This ancient form of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown was widely used during the Shang dynasty in ancient China. Not only was the process of divination an important cultural and religious practice, but it also contributed significantly to the development of early Chinese writing. The inscribed oracle bones are one of the earliest-known forms of Chinese script, which evolved over time to become part of modern East Asian writing systems. Archaeology has played a crucial role in uncovering and understanding these practices by finding and interpreting the oracle bones and other artifacts from the Shang period.