Knucklebone Dice

Knucklebones, known as Shagai to Mongolians, Astrogaloi to ancient Greeks, and Tali to Romans, were crafted from the knucklebones of hooved animals and used for games of chance, skill, and divination. This oldest known form of dice was played across the ancient world, in medieval Europe, and is still played in parts of Central Asia.

HOW TO PLAY: Numerous ways to play exist, reflecting the` diverse cultures that used them. The core concept remains consistent: each bone can land on one of four unique sides, with unequal probability. For a comprehensive history and rules of various knucklebones games, see the Link Wikipedia entry. Jenna Mortensen's Link paper offers a great summary of their use in divination.

A perfect gift for enthusiasts of history, board games, or historical board games! Available for purchase on Link Shapeways.