Ludus Coriovalli: using artificial intelligence-driven simulations to identify rules for an ancient board game

Antiquity, vol. 100, pp. 111–126

Abstract

The history of games is obscured by our inability to recognise indicators of play in the archaeological record. Lines incised on a piece of rounded limestone found at the Roman site of Coriovallum in Heerlen, The Netherlands, evoke a board game yet do not reflect the grid of any game known today. Here, the results of use-wear analysis are used to inform artificial intelligence-driven simulations based on permutations of rules from historic Northern European games. Disproportionate wear along specific lines favours the rules of blocking games, potentially extending the time depth and regional use of this game type.

Authors 7

1. Walter Crist corresponding Aachen

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden University

2. Éric Piette

   UCLouvain

   Affiliation as printed

   Université Catholique de Louvain

3. Karen Jeneson
   Affiliation as printed

   Het Romeins Museum

4. Dennis J. N. J. Soemers

   Maastricht University

   Affiliation as printed

   Maastricht University

5. Matthew Stephenson

   Flinders University

   Affiliation as printed

   Flinders University

6. Luk van Goor
   Affiliation as printed

   Restauratieatelier Restaura

7. Cameron Browne

   Maastricht University

   Affiliation as printed

   Maastricht University