In England, found chess pieces - a queen and a bishop (in Russian - an elephant), made in the middle of the 19th century, according to the website of the Lincolnshire County Council. According to archaeologists, they were hidden in an old village barn as protective amulets that protected from evil forces.
At least from the 15th century in England, the custom appeared to hide various objects that act as a talisman during the construction or repair of buildings. These could be horse skulls, cat mummies, vessels of an unusual shape, the so-called "witch's bottles" or, most often, worn-out shoes. Such items were placed in a chimney or fireplace, next to doors or windows, under the floor or under the roof. Similar items were found both in rural and urban homes and estates, and in factories, pubs, hospitals, and even in monasteries, cathedrals and university college buildings. Similar amulets were found on the territory of the United States and Australia - apparently, the British colonists brought the custom with them.
Archaeologists have found two chess pieces in the town of Bourg le Marsh in Central England. The queen and bishop (elephant) were made around 1850 from plaster or small stones, which are covered with resin on top. They were found in an old barn on a wooden beam that was above the entrance, so the researchers who found them believe that the artifacts were used as a talisman. “We know that in the 19th century, people hid objects near thresholds as protective amulets to protect against evil forces. They were worn-out shoes, cat mummies, or miniature bibles. But we've never seen chess pieces before,”says archaeologist Adam Daubney of Lincolnshire County Council. “Probably the praying bishop and the queen, who could play the role of the Virgin Mary, were specially chosen from other chess pieces. Perhaps [the builders believedthat] they could have special spiritual power to ward off evil forces."
Last year, a stone board was discovered in Scotland for hnefatafl, a medieval Scandinavian game reminiscent of chess. Two players were moving their pieces on a lined board. The boards provided space for the initial placement of chips, including the royal. Sometimes a dice was used in the game, with the help of which it was determined how far the chips can be moved, and whether they can be moved at all.
Ekaterina Rusakova
