Archaeological Discovery Reveals Medieval Games Collection in Southern Germany Castle

The game of chess found its way from the Orient to Europe over 1,000 years ago. Chess pieces from the early days of the game are very rare. During archaeological excavations at a forgotten castle in southern Germany, an excellently preserved knight piece was discovered. The find is part of a unique game collection, which also includes game pieces and a dice. An international team of experts from the University of Tübingen, the State Office for Monument Preservation (LAD) in the Stuttgart Regional Council and the German Archaeological Institute (DAI) are now examining these testimonies of early gaming culture. Laboratory analyses of paint residues show that one of the parties played with red. Typical signs of use indicate that the knight was raised when moving even then. This indicates an astonishing continuity in the rules of the game.  

Well-preserved archaeological finds of chess pieces and game pieces for other board games from before the 13th century are very rare in Central Europe. “In the Middle Ages, chess was one of the seven skills that a good knight should master. “In this respect, it is not surprising that known finds mostly come from castles,” explained Dr. Jonathan Scheschkewitz (LAD). “The discovery of an entire collection of games from the 11th/12th century came as a complete surprise to us, and the horse figure is a real highlight,” said Dr. Lukas Werther (DAI). 

The finds were discovered during excavations by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Collaborative Research Center 1070 Resource Cultures and the LAD in a previously unknown castle complex in southern Germany (Baden-Württemberg, Reutlingen district). “They were lying under the rubble of a wall, where they were lost or hidden in the Middle Ages,” said Dr. Michael Kienzle (University of Tübingen). The covering contributed to the surfaces of the finds being exceptionally well preserved. “Under the microscope, a typical shine from holding and moving the pieces can be seen,” explained Dr. Flavia Venditti (University of Tübingen). In addition to the chess piece, four flower-shaped pieces were found, as well as a dice with six eyes. They were carved from antlers. 
The eyes and mane of the four-centimeter-high horse figure are sculpted. This elaborate design is typical of particularly high-quality chess pieces of this period. The red paint residues found on the pieces are currently being chemically analyzed. From the detailed analysis of the finds, the researchers hope to gain diverse insights into the gaming world of the medieval nobility and the roots of European chess. 

The finds will be presented to anyone interested for the first time in 2024 in the large state exhibition “THE hidden LÄND” (Stuttgart, from September 13, 2024) and in the special exhibition “Unearthed! Knights and Castles in the Echaz Valley” (Pfullingen, from June 15, 2024). A 3D model of the chess piece , the dice and a game piece is already available online.