Find Spot record 7604 - Post Medieval Domino Tile

<1> Portable Antiquities Scheme, Various, Portable Antiquities Data Import, LVPL-3DD176 (Digital Archive). SCH5212.

A complete cast copper alloy domino tile, of probable Post Medieval dating (17th to 18th Centuries AD). The object is rectangular in plan and cross-section. The front of the object has been separated into two halves by a vertical incised line. One half of the object has six pits while the other side has four pits. The rear of the object is rear and undecorated. The object has a light green patina and is in good condition. The game of dominoes is believed to have been developed in China during the 12th Century AD, but became popular during 17th & 18th Centuries in Venice. However a set of domino type gaming pieces was found amongst the grave goods in King Tutankhamen's tomb, c. 1355 B.C, (Gilmore, T (2011).
An original set of dominoes represented the results from throwing two six sided dice. One half of the domino is set with the results of one die, and the other side is set with the results of the second die. The most frequently occurring sided set of dominos is that referred to as a 'double-six' and consists of 28 tiles. However larger sets known as 'double-nine' or 'double-twelve' are also known, each consist of 55 or 91 tiles respectfully, (ibid).

Date: from 1600 AD to 1800 AD
Broad Period:
Method of manufacture: Cast
Length: 27.83 mm
Width: 14.46 mm
Thickness: 3.13 mm
Weight: 8.6 grams
Preservation: Good
Completeness: Complete

<2> The British Museum, Portable Antiquities Scheme Online Database, LVPL-3DD176 (Web Site). SCH5176.