A board carved into a stone block found in the eastern part of the city (credit: Zofia Kowarska)

Ancient game boards found in Libyan ruins point to shepherds’ pastimes

Archaeologists working in the ancient Libyan city of Ptolemais have uncovered more than 100 carved game boards on ruined stone walls and blocks, evidence that generations of shepherds likely passed the time playing games similar to checkers and tic-tac-toe while grazing animals.

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A board carved into a stone block found in the eastern part of the city (credit: Zofia Kowarska)

Ancient game boards found in Libyan ruins point to shepherds’ pastimes

Archaeologists working in the ancient Libyan city of Ptolemais have uncovered more than 100 carved game boards on ruined stone walls and blocks, evidence that generations of shepherds likely passed the time playing games similar to checkers and tic-tac-toe while grazing animals.