"This unique jadeware is abundant, with more than 50 pieces found to date — a substantial number considering the scarcity of Hongshan culture jade," he explained.

Unlike other jade that features intricate designs, the hoof-shaped pieces are simple and hollow, with one end beveled and the other end flat, often punctuated with small borings on both sides of the smaller end. Their origin and connection to other Hongshan artifacts remain elusive, making them a perplexing puzzle in an otherwise highly symbolic and animal-stylized culture.

The turning point came when archaeologists unearthed a Neolithic tomb at the Lingjiatan site, thousands of kilometers from the Hongshan region.

More than 200 jade artifacts were discovered in the tomb, with three possessing unique shapes that captured the attention of researchers.

Based on their observations, Zhang Jingguo, the lead excavator, and Taiwan jade experts Deng Shuping and Huang Cuimei, said that the three jade pieces were a turtle and two turtle-shaped oblate vessels with flat mouths at one end and beveled mouths at the other end, which instantly reminded them of the jade artifacts of the Hongshan culture.

The flat mouth resembled the head of the turtle, while the oblique end signified the tail.

This led to a new hypothesis that the hoof-shaped jade tubes were inspired by the form of a turtle shell — a simplification and deification of this revered animal in ancient times.