Archaeologists working in the ruins of Ptolemais have uncovered more than 100 carved stone game boards, revealing how simple pastimes once shaped daily life in and around the abandoned city.
The carvings were documented by Zofia Kowarska from the University of Warsaw, whose work focuses on everyday traces left behind in archaeological landscapes. The boards appear on stone blocks, walls and columns, often in clusters.
“At first, it seemed like there might only be a few,” Kowarska said. “But after a few days of fieldwork, there were already more than 100. In some places, they appear side by side in large numbers.”
Ptolemais, located in Cyrenaica, was founded in the late 4th or 3rd century BC under Egyptian rule and remained active until the 7th century AD. Today, its remains lie near the modern town of Tolmeita. Excavations at the site resumed in 2023 after a long pause linked to the Libyan civil war.
Recent work by the Polish team has included studies of the acropolis and underwater surveys, which identified the remains of a shipwreck. Alongside these larger projects, the carved boards have drawn attention for what they suggest about day-to-day life after the city’s decline.
The boards are made up of small, round depressions arranged in grids. Some are simple three-by-three layouts, while others are more complex, with patterns extending to five-by-five or larger. A number of rectangular formats have also been found.
Researchers link the carvings to games known as sija or siza, which are played in different forms across parts of Africa and the Middle East. The rules vary, but some versions resemble tic-tac-toe, while others involve capturing an opponent’s pieces, similar to checkers. Players could use whatever objects were available, from stones and seeds to fragments of pottery.
“These were not games that required special equipment,” Kowarska said. “People used what they had at hand.”
Dating the boards remains difficult. There are few clear indicators of when they were carved, but their position on already damaged structures suggests they were made after the city had fallen out of use.
The placement of the carvings may also explain who used them. Many are located on higher points within the ruins, including corners of buildings and raised stone surfaces. These spots overlook open land that has long been used for grazing animals.
Archaeologists believe shepherds spent time in these areas, watching over flocks of goats and sheep. The boards would have provided a way to pass the time while keeping an eye on the surrounding landscape.
“The locations make sense for that kind of activity,” Kowarska said. “You have a clear view of the area, and at the same time a place to sit.”
The idea is supported by the fact that the area around Ptolemais remains largely undeveloped and continues to be used for grazing. The setting has likely changed little in that respect over the centuries.
There are also signs that the games themselves were not unique to the site. Similar boards and playing styles have been recorded elsewhere, suggesting the traditions may have been brought to the area rather than originating there. This fits with the movement of pastoral communities, who often travelled between regions.
Some knowledge of the games still exists in Tolmeita today, although it is becoming less common. Kowarska said an older resident was able to explain two versions: one played on a nine-square board with three pieces per player, and another based on capturing pieces.
That knowledge is gradually fading, as digital entertainment replaces older forms of play. For researchers, the boards offer one of the few remaining traces of these practices.
While the ruins of Ptolemais are often associated with large-scale history, the carved grids point to something quieter. They reflect time spent waiting, watching and playing — activities that rarely leave a record, but are part of how people lived.
Header Image Credit : Zofia Kowarska
Sources : PAP
