Archaeologists have unearthed a game board etched into the stone steps of a medieval bathhouse in the Moroccan town of Walīla, the site of the ancient Roman city of Volubilis. The discovery is being hailed as a rare example of a securely dated medieval gaming artifact.
The find sheds light on daily life and recreational pastimes in the region during the Islamic period. Carved into a public space, the board suggests that games were a common social activity, bridging the gap between the Roman and medieval eras.
Excavations at the bathhouse, which dates to the 14th century, revealed the board next to a sunken entrance. The exact game represented remains uncertain, though researchers suspect it may be a variant of mancala or alquerque, both widespread in medieval times.
This discovery underscores the cultural continuity in Walīla, where Roman ruins coexist with later Islamic structures. The site, a UNESCO World Heritage candidate, continues to yield artifacts that challenge assumptions about medieval Moroccan society.
The team plans further analysis to compare the board with other known medieval game boards from North Africa and Europe. Future digs may uncover additional artifacts linked to leisure or trade.