Ancient board game discovered in Volubilis medieval bathhouse

07:00

By: Dakir Madiha

Ancient board game discovered in Volubilis medieval bathhouse

Archaeologists have identified the oldest known evidence of the board game tāb, known in parts of North Africa as sīg, following the discovery of a carved game board at the medieval site of Walīla, the Arabic name for Volubilis near Meknes. The find was detailed in a new peer-reviewed study published in the journal Libyan Studies and provides the earliest documented example of the game anywhere in North Africa.

The board was carved into a stone step inside a medieval hammam constructed between the late eighth and ninth centuries. Researchers found the board on the upper step leading to a cold plunge pool. The structure was abandoned by the tenth or eleventh century, giving archaeologists a reliable timeframe for dating the carving. The board features three rows of at least 13 shallow semi-spherical holes and measures roughly 34 centimeters long and 9.5 centimeters wide. A fourth irregular row of eight holes appears behind the main layout and may have been used for scoring or represent an unfinished game.

Researchers believe the design corresponds to tāb or sīg, a strategic running-fight game played by two opponents who move pieces across a board while attempting to capture rival pieces. Modern versions of the game use four sticks instead of dice to determine movement. The study rejects the possibility that the board was used for mancala, noting that mancala boards generally contain larger and deeper holes capable of holding multiple counters and usually follow different structural patterns.

The discovery was made within a 243-square-meter bathhouse that formed part of a larger residential complex linked to Idrīs I, founder of the Idrisid dynasty, and his son Idrīs II. Archaeologists noted that the site's courtyard design, heating technology, and architectural features show strong influences from the Levant rather than local North African traditions. The heating system in particular resembles examples found in medieval baths of Damascus.

Before this discovery, comparable tāb or sīg boards had only been documented in regions including the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, western Türkiye, Portugal, and other parts of the Mediterranean. The Volubilis find fills a major geographical gap and suggests the game may have reached Morocco during the early Islamic period through contacts with people familiar with the pastime elsewhere in the Islamic world.

The location of the board also provides insight into social life at the site. Positioned near the entrance to the plunge pool and visible from the changing area, the carving appears to have been intentionally placed where bathhouse visitors could easily see and use it. Researchers argue that this indicates gaming formed an accepted part of the communal bathing experience rather than an informal or hidden activity.

The study also calls for greater attention to game boards and similar carvings during archaeological excavations. Such markings are often omitted from excavation reports despite offering valuable evidence about leisure activities, social interaction, and the use of public spaces during the early Islamic era. The Volubilis discovery demonstrates how seemingly minor features can reveal important aspects of daily life and cultural exchange in medieval Morocco.