Archaeological excavations in the historic city of Volubilis in Morocco have resulted in a new discovery inside one of the ancient baths, which may shed light on aspects of the history of the ancient Roman city.
This artifact was discovered above a staircase built during the early Islamic period, between the late 8th and early 9th centuries CE. The find consists of a small stone slab, 34 centimeters long and 9.5 centimeters wide, with three rows of small, regularly spaced holes carved into its surface.
This tablet remained buried at the site for centuries without its function being known, until researchers, based on archaeological studies and historical sources, were able to interpret the nature of the inscriptions carved on it.
After ruling out other possible explanations, the research team suggested that the holes represent a board for one of the traditional board games known in North Africa as "Tabba" or "Sigha," a game that was very popular in local communities.
If this interpretation is confirmed, the artifact may represent the oldest known physical evidence of the practice of these games in Morocco, and it predates by a long period the oldest written references to them.
Researchers believe that finding the painting inside a historic bathhouse is not surprising, as bathhouses in the Middle Ages were not only for hygiene and bathing, but also played an important social and cultural role, as they formed spaces for meeting, entertainment and spending leisure time.
This discovery provides a rare glimpse into the details of daily life in Morocco during that era, and highlights the importance of public bathing sites as centers of social activity in addition to their service functions.
