Playing pieces

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These fourteen bone playing pieces were found in a Viking boy's burial at Balnakeil near Durness in Sutherland in 1991. He was buried with adult weapons and various objects on a bedding of feathers and straw, sometime between 850 and 900.

The gaming pieces are flat based with conical tops. Bone pegs pass vertically through them, and probably originally extended beyond the bottom in order to slot into holes in a gaming board. This set was probably originally held in a pouch.

Viking gaming pieces of bone, amber, glass or stone have been found both in settlements and burials. Various types of games were played, including a type of war game and others involving the use of dice. This set may be incomplete.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-000-099-778-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: Kiloran Bay Viking Burial (multimedia essay)
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• Ref: National Museums Scotland  
• Date: Between 850 and 900
  
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• References:
  • Graham-Campbell, James and Batey, Colleen E. Vikings in Scotland. An Archaeological Survey. Edinburgh: University Press, 1998, pp 140-2. 
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