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Archaeologists Find a Rare, 1,000-Yr-Old Game Collection and a Well-Preserved Chess Knight Piece Carved From Antlers

The finding solidifies a long-held hypothesis by researchers that Medieval European nobility placed importance on chess.
PUBLISHED FEB 2, 2025
Antique chess pieces on a board (Representative Cover Image Source: Pexels | Photo by RDNE Stock project)
Antique chess pieces on a board (Representative Cover Image Source: Pexels | Photo by RDNE Stock project)

In 2024, researchers encountered several medieval gaming artifacts from a castle site in Germany. The unearthed collection included some exceptionally preserved chess pieces, dice, and game tokens, stated Ancient Origins. A team of archaeologists discovered this collection in the Reutlingen district of southern Germany. Experts from the University of Tübingen, the State Office for Monument Preservation (LAD) in Stuttgart, and the German Archaeological Institute (DAI) were involved in the project. 

Gray Chess Pieces on Black and White Chessboard (Representative Image Source: Pexels/Photo by RDNE Stock project)
Gray chess pieces on a chessboard (Representative Image Source: Pexels
| Photo by RDNE Stock project)

As per examinations, the knight piece possibly has been carved from an antler. The game tokens are flower-shaped while the dice have six sides, according to experts. The analysis also unveiled traces of red paint on these objects, making scientists speculate that one side of the chessboard was filled with red-colored pieces. The finding solidifies a long-held hypothesis by researchers that Medieval European nobility placed a lot of importance on chess. "In the Middle Ages, chess was one of the seven skills that a good knight should master. The discovery of an entire collection of games from the 11th/12th century came as a complete surprise to us, and the horse figure is a real highlight," Dr. Jonathan Scheschkewitz of LAD stated. 

After analysis, the pieces came out to be 1,000 years old. All the artifacts were spotted under a collapsed wall of the castle site. Experts think the objects either got lost or were deliberately hidden during the medieval period.

The knight piece measures around four centimeters (1.6 inches) in height, researchers stated. The team observed intricate sculpting on the eyes and mane of the knight piece. Researchers believe this aspect indicates that it was a premium chess piece constructed by skilled craftsmen in the medieval period. 



 

According to researchers, these pieces survived for so many centuries because they remained protected under the rubble. Scientists believe that chess came to Europe 1,000 years ago. For years, experts have been trying to understand the importance of this game and its history in medieval society, but have not achieved much success. Such findings aid them hugely in their pursuit. Examination of the pieces under a microscope has helped researchers focus on their texture, which enables them to identify how the objects were moved.

Experts spotted some wear on the knight which indicates that this piece was lifted and moved on the board. This made researchers claim that knights moving by this rule were established during the 11th or 12th century. The finding is valuable for experts as locating pre-13th century chess pieces has not been a common occurrence for experts. Dr. Flavia Venditti from the University of Tübingen has been given the responsibility of conducting a chemical analysis of the pieces, which researchers are hopeful will enhance their knowledge about the origin of these artifacts. 

The Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany (Representative Image Source: Pexels | Photo by Pixabay)
The Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany (Representative Image Source: Pexels | Photo by Pixabay)

Archaeologists believe that the artifacts belonged to a knight, according to the New York Post. They further noted that all four types of pieces were possibly involved in the same game enjoyed by the elites and knights. Furthermore, they claimed it was one of the first sets of chess game pieces used in Europe.

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