During excavation work in the southeast Mexico nine boards were discovered patolli – an ancient game from the Mesoamerican area. The find, which has over 1000 yearswas discovered on the highway leading to the city of Chetumal.
The ancient boards were carved directly into the stucco floor and are currently undergoing conservation, as they were in very poor condition when discovered. They were badly cracked, and some of their fragments were broken or worn away.
Patolli is a traditional game from pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. The name “patolli” comes from the Nahuatl word for “bean”, because it beans were most often used as dice. To prepare the beans for the game of patolli, a small hole had to be made on one side of it, so it was a kind of die with two sides. The game was played on a board that slightly resembled the modern game of Chinese.
Probably during the game it was popular to bet on various items. By default, each player had to add six items to the pool. As soon as one of the opponent’s pawns circled the board, one of the items had to be given to him.
The game of patolli was of great importance in the culture of the Mesoamerican people. It is estimated that it was not just entertainment, but a game with a strong symbolic meaningIt was meant to symbolize the movement of celestial bodies and remained an important part of the religious culture of the people there, as it was believed that the god of games took part in each game. Macuilxochitl.
Although the game was popular among various Mesoamerican cultures, this latest discovery provides valuable information about its importance among elites, probably in the Late Classic period (600-900 CE). The game probably served an important social function as a way of mediation and interaction between high-ranking officials.
Based on the architectural context in which the boards were found, archaeologists suggest that ceremonial complexwhere it was carved, underwent two stages of construction. Alfredo Saucedo Zavala, the archaeologist in charge of the excavations, indicates that the patolli were probably built during a later stage, but final confirmation will depend on analysis of the ceramics.
The presence of this game in the public space suggests that it was not entertainment reserved only for people of a certain status. In addition to classic entertainment, the boards could also be used during meetings of political elitesprobably as a form of diplomacy or negotiation outside of more formal deliberations. Their location suggests that the game may have been used to resolve disputes or forge alliances between high-ranking figures.
Source: geekweek.interia.pl
