Archaeologists from the Norwegian Institute of Cultural Heritage Research (NIKU) have found a small medieval chess piece during excavations at the Anders Madsen Gate in Tnsberg.
They found it in a house that dates back to the 13th century. But what attracted the researchers most was the Arab pattern on it. “The design of the piece has an abstract shape and is designed according to Islamic tradition, where no human figures are to be depicted,” said excavation project manager Lars Haugeston in a release.
The piece, 30 mm in height, with a diameter of 26 mm, is made of antlers and decorated with several dotted circles. “No previous archaeological find from Tnsberg has a description that emphasizes that this chess piece is a unique object,” Haugestein said.
“The oldest finds in the Nordic region are from Lund, Sweden, which dates back to the late 12th century. That fragment is identical to the Tnsberg discovery.”
By comparing the piece with ancient forms of chess, the researchers note that the piece appears to be a horse or a knight. “In Norway, some chess pieces from the Middle Ages have been found but (only) a few identical knights. For example, in Bergen, more than 1,000 gaming pieces have been found. Some of these are chess pieces but only 6 abstract knights ,” says Haugestein.
During the excavations, archaeologists found ceramics, metal, combs and horns, in addition to chess pieces. Several houses and streets were also discovered.
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