Science

'World's oldest chess piece' carved 1,300 years ago found at ancient settlement in Jordan


Rook from b4: ‘World’s oldest chess piece’ carved from sandstone 1,300 years ago is found at a settlement in southern Jordan along the trade route from India across the Middle East 

  • The chessman was found in a dig at Humayma — once Hawara — back in 1991
  • Unlike modern rooks that resemble a castle, the piece is styled after a chariot
  • The word ‘rook’ itself is derived from the Persian word for a chariot, ‘rukh’
  • Chess originated in India in the 6th century, spreading to Persia and then beyond

The world’s oldest chess piece — carved from a piece of sandstone around 1,300 years ago — may have been found in an ancient Islamic settlement in south Jordan.

The chessman is believed to be a rook, which in the game is permitted to move horizontally and vertically for as many spaces as possible and can ‘castle’ with a king.

Chess is thought to have originated in the north of India in 550 AD, before spreading to Persian and from their across Europe and Russia by 1000 AD.

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The world's oldest chess piece — carved from a piece of sandstone around 1,300 years ago — may have been found in an ancient Islamic settlement in south Jordan

The world’s oldest chess piece — carved from a piece of sandstone around 1,300 years ago — may have been found in an ancient Islamic settlement in south Jordan

CHESS’ MOVE LIST 

Chess is believed to have originated in northwest India around 550 AD.

The first explicit reference to the game is made in a Persian manuscript in 600 AD, noting chess’ Indian origins. 

Around 800 AD, the Moors brought chess to both Spain and Sicily, 

Chess had become widespread across Europe and Russia by 1000 AD.  

The modern game began around 1475–1500 AD, with new moves introduced for the bishop and queen.

The first printed book on chess was published in the year 1495.  

London played host to the first international tournament in 1851, while the first acknowledged world championship match followed in 1886. 

The carved sandstone piece was found at a 1,300-year-old Islamic settlement at Humayma — the modern name for the ancient trading post of Hawara — in southern Jordan, in 1991.

Unlike modern rooks — which are commonly styled to resemble a fortified castle tower — the rectangular stone with two horns is believed to represent the silhouette of a horse-drawn chariot.

In fact, the name ‘rook’ is derived from ‘rukh’, which is the Persian word for chariot. 

It is thought that the appearance of Persian chariots — which were built to resemble small fortifications — may have inspired the European take on the piece.

Other remains found at the long-occupied and multifarious Humayma site include a Byzantine church, a Roman fort, early Islamic mosques and stone tombs that have been dated to the first century.

‘There are references to chess-playing in Islamic texts as early as AD 643 — and the game was popular throughout the Islamic world by the end of the Umayyad caliphate,’ wrote archaeologist John Oleson of the University of Victoria.

The Umayyad dynasty ruled the Islamic world — which at the time formed one of the largest empires in history — from 661–750 AD.

These rulers would eventually be overthrown and replaced, however, by the wealthy Abbasid family, who lived in Hawara at the time the ancient chess piece would have been used in games.

The chessman is believed to be a rook, which in the game is permitted to move horizontally and vertically for as many spaces as possible and can 'castle' with a king. Pictured, a rook carved in the modern design, which resembles a fortified castle tower

The chessman is believed to be a rook, which in the game is permitted to move horizontally and vertically for as many spaces as possible and can ‘castle’ with a king. Pictured, a rook carved in the modern design, which resembles a fortified castle tower 

Unlike modern rooks — which are commonly styled to resemble a fortified castle tower — the rectangular stone with two horns is believed to represent the silhouette of a horse-drawn chariot. Similar rooks can be seen in this glazed ceramic chess set from 12th century Iran

Unlike modern rooks — which are commonly styled to resemble a fortified castle tower — the rectangular stone with two horns is believed to represent the silhouette of a horse-drawn chariot. Similar rooks can be seen in this glazed ceramic chess set from 12th century Iran

Chess itself is believed to have originated in India 1,500 years ago before spreading westward and capturing the heart of players worldwide. 

‘Since the game probably was carried westward from India by the movement of merchants and diplomats, it is no surprise that early evidence for it should be found at a site on the busy [trade route of] Via Nova Traiana,’ Professor Oleson wrote. 

‘Several later abstract “rooks” from Jordan and elsewhere in the Near East — carved in stone, wood, or ivory — are nearly identical to the Humayma object in design and scale.’

The full findings of the study were presented at the 2019 American Schools of Oriental Research annual meeting which was held in San Diego, California from November 20–23.  

The carved sandstone piece was found at a 1,300-year-old Islamic settlement at Humayma — the modern name for the ancient trading post of Hawara — in southern Jordan, in 1991

The carved sandstone piece was found at a 1,300-year-old Islamic settlement at Humayma — the modern name for the ancient trading post of Hawara — in southern Jordan, in 1991

 



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