A team of archaeologists in Germany has discovered a medieval games collection including a well-preserved chessman, gaming pieces and dice. Dating to the 11th or 12th century, the game pieces were found during excavations of a long-forgotten castle.
“The discovery of an entire games collection the 11th/12th century came as a complete surprise to us and the horse-shaped knight piece is a real highlight,” says Dr Lukas Werther, from the German Archaeological Institute (DAI). The finds were discovered during excavations of a previously unknown castle in southern Germany.
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The eyes and mane of the 4 cm high horse figure are moulded. This elaborate design is typical of particularly high-quality chess pieces from this period. Laboratory results reveal that users would have lifted up the knight in a similar way to how today’s chess players do during a move, pointing to an astonishing continuity in the rules of the game.
Chess piece from the 11th/12th century. Photo by Victor Brigola / University of Tübingen
In addition to the chess piece, four flower-shaped game pieces were found, as well as a dice with six eyes. They were carved from antlers. Moreover, red paint residues were found on the flower-shaped pieces.
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Well-preserved archaeological finds of chess pieces and game pieces for other board games from before the 13th century are very rare in Central Europe. “In the Middle Ages, chess was one of the seven skills that a good knight should master. It is therefore not surprising that known finds mostly come from castles.” explained Dr Jonathan Scheschkewitz from the Baden-Württemberg State Office for the Preservation of Monuments.
The excavations were carried out in 2022 by a team of experts from the University of Tübingen, the Baden-Württemberg State Office for the Preservation of Monuments and the German Archaeological Institute. The gaming pieces “lay under the debris of a wall where they were lost or hidden in the Middle Ages,” added Dr Michael Kienzle of the University of Tübingen. The covering allowed for artifacts to be exceptionally well-preserved.
Top Image: Chess piece, game piece and dice from the 11th/12th century. Finds from the archaeological excavation 2022 at Burgstein, Germany. Photo by Victor Brigola / University of Tübingen
A team of archaeologists in Germany has discovered a medieval games collection including a well-preserved chessman, gaming pieces and dice. Dating to the 11th or 12th century, the game pieces were found during excavations of a long-forgotten castle.
“The discovery of an entire games collection the 11th/12th century came as a complete surprise to us and the horse-shaped knight piece is a real highlight,” says Dr Lukas Werther, from the German Archaeological Institute (DAI). The finds were discovered during excavations of a previously unknown castle in southern Germany.
The eyes and mane of the 4 cm high horse figure are moulded. This elaborate design is typical of particularly high-quality chess pieces from this period. Laboratory results reveal that users would have lifted up the knight in a similar way to how today’s chess players do during a move, pointing to an astonishing continuity in the rules of the game.
In addition to the chess piece, four flower-shaped game pieces were found, as well as a dice with six eyes. They were carved from antlers. Moreover, red paint residues were found on the flower-shaped pieces.
Well-preserved archaeological finds of chess pieces and game pieces for other board games from before the 13th century are very rare in Central Europe. “In the Middle Ages, chess was one of the seven skills that a good knight should master. It is therefore not surprising that known finds mostly come from castles.” explained Dr Jonathan Scheschkewitz from the Baden-Württemberg State Office for the Preservation of Monuments.
Medieval Dice | Mittelalterlicher Würfel by LAD BW on Sketchfab
The excavations were carried out in 2022 by a team of experts from the University of Tübingen, the Baden-Württemberg State Office for the Preservation of Monuments and the German Archaeological Institute. The gaming pieces “lay under the debris of a wall where they were lost or hidden in the Middle Ages,” added Dr Michael Kienzle of the University of Tübingen. The covering allowed for artifacts to be exceptionally well-preserved.
The finds will be presented to the public for the first time at the special exhibition Ausgegraben! Ritter und Burgen im Echaztal / Excavated! Knights and Castles in the Echaz Valley in Pfullingen later this month and exhibition The Hidden Land exhibition in Stuttgart, starting in September.
Medieval Token | Mittelalterlicher Spielstein by LAD BW on Sketchfab
Top Image: Chess piece, game piece and dice from the 11th/12th century. Finds from the archaeological excavation 2022 at Burgstein, Germany. Photo by Victor Brigola / University of Tübingen
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