archaeologists uncover ancient egypt"s board game origins on caspian coast
- Archaeologists discovered rock carvings of the board game hounds and jackals in Azerbaijan, dating to around 2000 BC.
- The game, also known as fifty-eight holes, was widely played across a region including Egypt and Mesopotamia for over 1,000 years.
- These findings suggest that the game facilitated cultural connections and social interactions across different communities.
Recent archaeological findings suggest that the board game known as hounds and jackals, popular in ancient Egypt, likely originated in south-western Asia. Rock carvings of the game, dating back to around 2000 BC, have been discovered in modern-day Azerbaijan, indicating its early adoption among local cattle herders. This timeframe aligns with the oldest known example of the game found in an Egyptian tomb from around 2064 to 1952 BC. The game, also referred to as fifty-eight holes, features a board with a total of fifty-eight holes and is played by two players using pieces shaped like jackals or hounds. Variations of this game have been found across a vast region, including Egypt, the Levant, and Mesopotamia, suggesting its widespread popularity over more than a millennium. Archaeologists have identified six additional board designs in Azerbaijan, with some boards likely dating back to the second millennium BC. These discoveries highlight the cultural connections between the Caspian coast and surrounding regions, emphasizing the role of games in facilitating social interactions across different cultures and socioeconomic groups. The findings, published in the European Journal of Archaeology, indicate that the game was not only enjoyed by the elite in Egypt but also by various communities, including cattle herders and workers. This rapid spread of the game underscores its significance as a social tool that transcended boundaries, fostering connections among diverse populations in ancient times.