Knucklebones

Number of players: 2+
Type of game: Skill
Period: 1400BC+

Knucklebones is an ancient game of skill and chance, originally played with the ankle bones (astragali) of sheep or goats. It has appeared in cultures across ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt, and Central Asia, and is considered an ancestor to dice and modern dexterity games like jacks.

History of Knucklebones

Ancient Origins: Dates back at least to 1400 BCE in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Period Games

Shut The Box

Number of players: 4(2 teams of 2)
Type of game: Dice Period: 1100+

Shut the Box is a traditional dice game that dates back several centuries and has been popular in English pubs and households. It is a simple yet engaging game of chance and strategy where players aim to “shut” (flip down) all numbered tiles by rolling dice and matching the sum to open tiles.

History of Shut the Box

Origins: Thought to have originated in France or England during the 12th to 18th centuries.