Archaeologists have discovered ancient carvings on rocks in Azerbaijan, shedding light on how early humans entertained themselves. These findings offer insight into ancient board games, potentially reshaping our understanding of their origins.

Ancient Rock Surfaces Reveal Historic Games

Six rock surfaces with carved patterns were found at various sites across the Abşeron Peninsula and Gobustan Reserve in Azerbaijan. Estimated to date back to around 2000 BCE, these carvings bear a striking resemblance to the pattern of the ancient board game Hounds and Jackals. Previously, the oldest known example of this game was found in an Egyptian tomb.

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New Theories on the Game's Origins

Archaeologists Walter Crist and Rahman Abdullayev, from Leiden University and the Minnesota Historical Society, suggest these discoveries challenge the assumption that the game Fifty-Eight Holes originated in Egypt. Instead, they propose it might have begun in southwestern Asia. In their research, they highlight the regional popularity of certain games, which connected diverse cultures through common entertainment.

Games Bridging Cultures

The researchers noted that games like Fifty-Eight Holes were widespread in Egypt and southwestern Asia during the second millennium BCE. They believe these games helped different societies interact and bond. The rapid spread of the game across regions, from Egyptian nobility to Anatolian traders, shows how board games could act as social tools, breaking boundaries and uniting people across diverse backgrounds.

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