Oldest Board Game In History Discovered
The oldest board game in the world may have been discovered, predating a game found in Egypt that previously held that title. This discovery also challenges the belief that the game itself, which was widespread in the Ancient world, originated in Egypt. Archeologists are still working on more precise dating, but the discovery sheds new light on how widespread and ancient these types of games were.
Hounds And Jackals
The world’s oldest board game is Hounds and Jackals, also known as 58 Holes. Archaeologists recently discovered a version of the game in modern Azerbaijan, and they believe it predates other versions.
A version of the same game found in Egypt was previously considered the oldest of its type, dating back to somewhere between 2064 and 1952 BC.
Not Created By Egyptians?
Finding a version of Hounds and Jackals older than the Egyptian version previously believed to be the oldest board game challenges its perceived origin.
It was believed that the game was created by ancient Egyptians and spread to the rest of the region from that location. The discovery calls that origin story into question, though the archeologists behind the find say it would be a mistake to definitively claim any one location as the origin point.
Copies Throughout The World
Regardless of which version is older, there’s strong evidence that Hounds and Jackals is the oldest popular board game with archeologists finding copies spread throughout the ancient world.
At least 60 copies have been found throughout the Middle East. Archaeologists first uncovered a version of the game in 1890 as modern archeology was being established, giving the game a long history within the field.
Two Player Race Game, Similar To Cribbage?
The details of how the world’s oldest board game was played remain a mystery, but archeologists have pieced together some ideas about the game.
The board consists of two rows of 29 pegs, with one large hole at the end of each row, while the pieces are two sets of carved sticks one a set of dogs, and another of jackals.
Archeologists think that it was a two-player race game similar to cribbage, with the goal being to get all of the pieces to the larger final hole in the board first.
Other Ancient Games
While Hounds and Jackals is the oldest board game, it’s far from the only game of its type in the ancient world.
Games found in the ancient Middle East also include Senet, Mehen, and The Royal Game of Ur.
Others from around the world include the Roman Game of Mercenaries and the Chinese game Sugoroku which spread to Japan where it became very popular.
The Fabric Of Society
The oldest board game proving to be even older than previously thought demonstrates just how important the idea is to people, even separated by several millennia.
It’s easy to think of leisure activities like getting together to play a board game as inherently modern, but games like Hounds and Jackals prove that they’re hardwired into the fabric of society.
Whether the game originated in Ancient Egypt or nearby Asia, it spread through the region across various ancient societies, making it one of the hottest products in the ancient world.
Source: Ars Technica
