A smooth, white stone from the Roman era has puzzled researchers for years. Now, thanks to artificial intelligence, scientists think they’ve figured it out: it’s an ancient board game.
The stone, made of circular limestone, features various cut lines. By using 3D imaging from Restaura, researchers discovered that some of these lines are worn down more than others. “We can see wear along the lines, just where you would slide a piece,” said Walter Crist, an archaeologist at Leiden University. This wear strongly suggests it was used for play.
At Maastricht University, a team developed an AI called Ludii. They trained it with the rules of about 100 ancient games similar to those from the Roman era. The AI generated numerous possible rule sets. Dennis Soemers, a researcher there, said, “It played the game with itself and found several enjoyable variations for people.”
The team then matched these possible rules with the wear patterns on the stone, trying to come up with the game’s likely movements. However, Soemers warned that while the AI can find game rules based on the stone’s lines, it may not reflect how the Romans originally played it.
Experts believe the aim of this “simple yet thrilling strategy game” was to trap the opponent’s pieces as quickly as possible. Possible game pieces might have been made from glass, bone, or earthenware.
Karen Jeneson, curator of The Roman Museum in Heerlen, said the wear marks on the stone fit with historical games. Despite considering other uses for the stone, like decoration, they found no alternative explanation—it truly appears to be a board game.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first instance of ancient game pieces being found. In 2015, excavations in a Roman settlement near the Rhine River uncovered not just board games but also dice.
This discovery showcases the intersection of technology and history. Recent advancements in AI not only help recreate ancient games but also give us insight into how people lived and played centuries ago. As more finds emerge, we can look forward to uncovering the rich tapestry of human leisure activities throughout history. For those wanting deeper insights, you can explore the published study in the journal Antiquity here.
Source link
Archaeologist, Netherlands
