Posted on 06/13/2020 7:26:54 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
Rare elongated dice and board game pieces from the Roman Iron Age have been discovered in western Norway.
Last month, Norwegian archaeologists chose to excavate the remains of a small Early Iron Age grave cairn in western Norway. Dotted with monuments and grave mounds, the scenic location overlooking Alversund played an important role in Norwegian history.
The site at Ytre Fosse turned out to be a cremation patch. Amidst the fragments of pottery and burnt glass, archaeologists found a surprise: rare Roman Iron Age dice and board game pieces...
Archaeologists also found the remains of what was likely a powerful person. The nearby Alverstraumen straight was an important point on the sea route between the north and south of Norway. This was named Nordvegen, the northern way, from which Norway takes its name.
The bone debris, carefully decorated pottery and burnt glass indicate the person cremated here was likely of high status. But it's the gaming pieces that highlight this more than anything else.
"These are status objects that testify to contact with the Roman Empire, where they liked to enjoy themselves with board games. People who played games like this were local aristocracy or upper class. The game showed that you had the time, profits and ability to think strategically," said Ramstad.
The pieces are of a very rare type, known to be from the Roman Iron Age, dated to around AD 300. The haul included 13 whole and five broken game chips along with an almost completely intact elongated dice.
(Excerpt) Read more at lifeinnorway.net ...
Luv it, thanks!
Monopolium. Via Park est Via Apian.
Ahem: DIE.
Of course they would play Risk, the game of world domination!
Wow, you want the guy to die just because he used a plural where he should have used a singular? Ouch, grammar nazi!
“The game showed that you had the time, profits and ability to think strategically.”
That, and if you were there in the winter it was dark most of the time so there wasn’t much else left to do. My first thought was how lucky those Romans must have thought they were as Western Norway is really beautiful. Then I thought about those long dark winters. That must have been tough duty.
Well, okay. [croaks] /jk
Na-Na-Hey-Hey!...................................
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