Ancient board games were often carved directly into stone surfaces across the landscape.
In short: Professor Alex de Voogt explores the history of mancala and other board games. By examining archaeological sites like Sai Island in Sudan, he reveals how ancient people integrated gaming into their physical environment, turning stone surfaces into permanent, public play spaces.
Alex de Voogt, a professor in the psychology department at Drew University, specializes in the history and archaeology of board games, with a particular focus on mancala. His research spans contemporary and historical gaming practices across Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean.
The study of these games often involves looking at physical evidence left in the landscape, such as game boards carved into stone. A notable example is found on Sai Island in Sudan, which de Voogt documented in 2011. His work is supported by his long-standing commitment to the field, including founding the Board Game Studies Journal in 1998 and initiating the Board Game Studies colloquium series in 1995.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Quarrying Games in Antiquity | Alex de Voogt, Professor, Psychology Department at Drew University
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