Archaeologists excavating the ancient city of Hadrianopolis in Turkey’s Karabük Province have unearthed two Roman bone game stones believed to date back to the 5th century. The discovery sheds light on the city’s significance as a Roman military base and its role in ancient strategy games.
Details of the recent discovery
The ongoing excavations, led by Associate Professor Ersin Çelikbaş of Karabük University’s Department of Archaeology, continue to reveal new insights into the city’s past. Çelikbaş mentioned that the newly found game stones resemble lentils and discs.
One bears a four-armed symbol, while the other features an eight-armed design. He explains these markings suggest the stones were used in a strategy game popular among soldiers.
“If we go back to the subject of games, these games are games based on military strategy,” Çelikbaş said. He linked the find to ancient Roman strategy games such as Ludus Latrunculi and Doudecim Scripta.
Both games, which highlighted tactical and strategic planning, gained widespread popularity throughout the Roman Empire, particularly among soldiers during their leisure time.
Historical evidence suggests that Ludus Latrunculi, a two-player board game, involved 16 pieces for each player to capture the opponent’s pieces.
Similarly, Doudecim Scripta, considered a precursor to backgammon, was played on a board featuring three rows of twelve columns, as suggested by its name, which translates to “game of twelve lines.”
The historical importance of Hadrianopolis
Hadrianopolis, located about three kilometers west of the modern-day town of Eskipazar, served as a key settlement during the late Chalcolithic, Roman, and early Byzantine periods. The city was reestablished by the Roman Emperor Hadrian on the site of the ancient Greek city of Orestias (named after its mythological founder Orestes).
Often referred to as the “Zeugma of the Black Sea” due to its remarkable mosaics, Hadrianopolis is famous for artwork depicting animals such as horses, elephants, panthers, deer, and mythical griffons. These mosaics highlight the city’s cultural richness, which flourished as a vital center in southwestern Asia Minor.
Evidence of a Roman military base
The discovery of the game stones adds to earlier findings that confirm Hadrianopolis’s role as a Roman garrison near the empire’s eastern frontier. Çelikbaş noted that Rome likely established this military base to guard against invasions from the Black Sea region.
📍 Karabük’ün Eskipazar ilçesindeki Hadrianopolis Antik Kenti’ndeki kazı çalışmalarında 5. yüzyıla ait olduğu değerlendirilen askeri strateji oyununa ait 2 adet kemik oyun taşı gün yüzüne çıkarıldı.
Karabük Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Arkeoloji Bölümü Öğretim Üyesi ve Kazı… pic.twitter.com/0XzUAtBg95
— arkeolojihaber ® (@arkeolojihaber) January 10, 2025
Further evidence of the site’s strategic importance is the discovery of a Roman cavalry mask, dated to the 3rd century AD, during previous excavations.
Çelikbaş said that these finds reinforce the existence of a Roman headquarters, a military unit, and a fortress in Hadrianopolis from the 2nd to the 5th century AD.
The archaeological work at Hadrianopolis continues to reveal a city that was not only a military stronghold but also a vibrant cultural hub, blending Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and local influences. Researchers aim to enhance our understanding of life in this ancient city and its significance in the Roman Empire by uncovering more artifacts.