For centuries, the ancient Romans enjoyed a vibrant culture of board games, including well-documented strategy contests like Ludus Latrunculorum (akin to chess or checkers) and Ludus Duodecim Scriptorum (similar to backgammon). Now, an international team of researchers has solved a decades-old archaeological puzzle: a mysterious stone slab unearthed in 1984 is, in fact, a previously unknown Roman board game.
The Discovery at Coriovallum
The oval stone, measuring roughly 8.3 by 5.7 inches, was excavated from Coriovallum, a Roman settlement in the Netherlands near the modern German border. Founded during the reign of Emperor Augustus (27 BCE–14 CE), Coriovallum thrived due to its strategic location at the intersection of key Roman roadways. This ensured sustained economic prosperity, reflected in the town’s architecture and burial sites.
The stone itself is made of white Jurassic limestone from quarries in Norroy, France—a common material for Roman building projects in northern provinces. Its purpose remained unclear for over four decades, as it was too small for construction and lacked resemblance to known architectural sketches. The prevailing theory that it was a game board was hampered by the lack of similar examples from the period.
Wear Patterns and AI-Driven Reconstruction
Recent 3D imaging revealed subtle wear patterns on the stone’s etched lines, indicating frequent use by sliding game pieces. This evidence supported the board game hypothesis. To determine the rules, researchers enlisted the help of artificial intelligence experts at Maastricht University.
The team developed “Ludii,” an AI program trained on the rules of over 100 ancient games from the region. Ludii generated dozens of potential rule sets, then simulated gameplay to identify human-enjoyable variants. By cross-referencing these rules with the observed wear patterns on the stone, the researchers theorized the game—dubbed Ludus Coriovalli —was a fast-paced strategy game where the goal was to trap opponent pieces in as few moves as possible.
Remaining Uncertainties
The study’s findings represent the most plausible explanation for the artifact’s function. However, without primary source documentation, the exact rules of Ludus Coriovalli may never be definitively known. As AI designer Dennis Soemers cautioned, Ludii can generate rules for any line pattern, meaning the Roman players may have used a different set entirely.
The discovery highlights how little is known about ancient Roman leisure, despite the empire’s well-documented history. The stone serves as a reminder that even in a highly organized civilization, not every detail survives.
