Ancient Native American Dice Predate Traditional Gaming by Thousands of Years

A recent study reveals that Native Americans were using dice-like gaming pieces over 12,000 years ago, long before the Bronze Age. These artifacts, known as 'binary lots,' were primarily crafted from wood or bone and found in archaeological sites across Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. The findings, published in the journal American Antiquity, challenge the historical understanding of gaming practices in North America and highlight a significant gap in archaeological literature regarding pre-European gaming. The study's lead author, Robert J. Madden, developed a new method to identify these ancient gaming pieces, suggesting that similar artifacts may exist globally yet remain unclassified. This research opens new avenues for understanding the evolution of games and gambling practices.

Key Details: • The study was published on April 2 in American Antiquity. • Artifacts were found in Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. • The research identified over 600 sets of ancient dice from 45 archaeological sites. • Binary lots were primarily used for gambling and games of chance.