Dear Histarchers,

Does anyone know what sort of games were played with 'gaming pieces' made
from broken ceramics? The pieces I have excavated are usually around 25mm
in diameter and the jagged sides roughly rounded by rubbing against a
harder object. Generally they are made of any piece of transferware but in
one case a scene of an Oriental man was deliberately selected. I have found
larger specimens formed from the bases of cups (with scenes on the base of
the bowl), again, the edges rounded off. Several show signs of wear, as if
they had been smoothed down to slide easily on a board or table - or the
wear may be due to the activity of having been slid across a surface for
some time. Were they used for gambling or playing some sort of board game?
I have also found lead pieces of about 20mm - 25mm in diameter and thicker
than a coin, possibly for the same purpose, some imprinted with patterns in
low relief.

Regards, Robert

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