Divination by observing charred or cracked shoulder blades or markings on the shoulder bone of an animal, especially a sheep: The practice of scapulimancy; that is, divination through the appearance of the shoulder-blade of an animal, which may or may not have been subjected to scorching, is among the most ancient methods of fortune-telling in Eurasia and among other widespread regions of the world.

Oracle bones were in use in the China of Shang-Yin dynasty and the practice has persisted in Mongolia up to very recently and probably still exists.

Methods of using bones for fortune-telling are recorded from areas as far removed culturally and geographically as early China and Greece.

Divination by observing or examining the shoulder blades of an animal: In the newspaper article Joe was reading, a man was said to have used the aid of spatulamancy by scrutinizing burned, cracked, or charred animal shoulder blades to find out if he was going to win in the lottery!