The history of game boards: from carved stone to playing mats

The earliest known game boards date back around 5,000 years and could be carved into stone, painted on wood or marked directly on the ground. Although their designs have changed, their purpose remains the same: to define the playing area, from Egyptian Senet (the game of passing) to medieval ajedrez (chess) and family games of parchís (Spanish ludo).

The oldest boards

Egyptian Senet and the Real Juego de Ur (Royal Game of Ur), from Mesopotamia, are among the oldest surviving game boards. Some were luxury pieces with inlaid decoration; others were simple engraved grids. We explore them in what is the oldest board game in the world.

Boards everywhere

The Romans carved game boards into the steps of public buildings and the paving slabs of their forums. They can still be seen at some archaeological sites. Medieval monasteries and castles also have boards scratched into the stone by people waiting for their turn on guard duty.

The board as a work of art

In the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, chess and tablas (tables, a family of backgammon-style games) boards were prestigious gifts. Alfonso X’s Libro de los juegos (Book of Games), dating from 1283, depicts many of them in great detail. We take a look in our history of chess.

From cardboard to playing mats

Printing and cardboard made game boards cheaper in the 19th century and brought them into homes everywhere. Cards do not need a board, but they do have an equivalent: the green playing mat, which protects the deck and helps the cards glide smoothly. At our online tables, we have aimed to keep that familiar playing-mat feel.