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Playing piece of antler

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From the Brough of Birsay, Orkney

Playing piece of antler
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This antler playing piece was found during excavations of the church on the Brough of Birsay in Orkney. It is a well-known type, similar to other examples from Shetland and Greenland. The object dates from around 1100.

The conical playing piece with an acorn-shaped head is polished smooth. It has a small hole at the bottom, perhaps designed as a socket for a peg which would have enabled the piece to be used on a gaming board with holes.

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.

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