Archaeologists Discover 450-year-old Gambling Die in Belarus

Archaeologists have discovered a unique 450-year-old gaming die in Belarus during excavations in the Vitebsk region. The find was made while studying the remains of a noble estate, SB.by reports.

The bone object, which was used for gambling games, was found in a layer of a burned building dating back to the second half of the 16th century.

According to researchers, discoveries of this kind are extremely rare in Belarusian archaeology.

Dice games were widespread across Europe in the 16th century and were also known in the territories of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.

Players typically rolled one or more dice, with the outcome determined by the number of points shown.

These games were considered forms of gambling because the result depended on chance, and players could wager money or other valuables.

The discovered die provides new insights into the daily life and pastimes of the estate’s inhabitants. The find suggests that they shared interests that were common during that period.

According to a preliminary theory proposed by researchers, the estate was burned down by the troops of Ivan the Terrible during the Livonian (Inflanty) War, which lasted from 1563 to 1579. In addition to the gaming die, archaeologists discovered fragments of imported pottery. These finds point to trade connections between the estate’s owners and the cities of Polotsk and Riga.

Archaeologists plan to continue their research to clarify the circumstances surrounding the destruction of the estate and uncover more details about the lives of its inhabitants.

* Szlachta — the privileged noble class in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.

** In the 16th century, the territories of modern-day Belarus were part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and, from 1569, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.