Gaming Counter

Ceramic

-

Trimontium Museum

Name/Title

Gaming Counter

Entry/Object ID

L.2021.108

Description

White / grey glass gaming counter, part of the Cruickshank collection of finds from Newstead, Roxburghshire

Use

This game would have been used by the soldiers and civilians at the fort alike. This was a popular game among the Romans that traveled the world with them.

Context

This board game was probably used to play the very popular Latrunculi or Ludus Latrunculorum. It was a strategy game similar to chess.

Collection

National Museums Scotland

Category

Gaming
Leisure

Acquisition

Accession

X.2000.17.120

Source or Donor

National Museums Scotland

Acquisition Method

Loan

Source (if not Accessioned)

National Museums Scotland

Made/Created

Time Period

1st - 2nd century

Ethnography

Cultural Region

Continent

Europe

Culture/Tribe

Romano British

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Piece, Game

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Component, Game

Nomenclature Class

Game Equipment

Nomenclature Category

Category 09: Recreational Objects

Other Names and Numbers

Other Numbers

Number Type

Previous Accession Number

Other Number

X.FRA 5048

Material

Glass

Color

White

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Web Links and URLs

NMS Collections

Provenance

Provenance Detail

From the Roman Site at Newstead

Exhibition

Permanent Exhibition

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Exhibition Caption

Label

Soldiers had a tough working life but they did have enough time for leisure. Board games and gambling were popular. These purpose-made glass counters and recycled Samian ware pottery pieces were used on a gaming board scratched onto stone.