Other Artifacts

In the ruins of Ptolemais, one of antiquity’s largest Greek cities in present-day Libya, archaeologists have unearthed a captivating discovery. Researchers from the University of Warsaw have documented over 100 stone-carved ancient game boards etched into the abandoned city. This find offers an intimate glimpse into how people passed their time long after the metropolis had fallen. The discovery, spearheaded by archaeologist Zofia Kowarska, is reshaping our understanding of everyday life in post-classical antiquity. These simple grids, carved directly into limestone blocks and ancient walls, highlight the quiet routines of local populations who repurposed the decaying Greco-Roman architecture for their own leisure reports Science in Poland. Play the Oldest Board Game in the World: Royal Game of Ur Yale Archaeologist