The Royal Game of Ur: The First Board Game
The Royal Game of Ur was uncovered in the 4000-year-old ruins of the palace of city of Ur. Consisting of a board, a number of checker-like pieces, and four tetrahedral dice, it represents the earliest known board game. I was captivated by this, and sought to recreate the game - starting with its most complex component, the dice.
Although the edges are rough, the dice roll easily and are perfect for use with a board game.
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Using a planer, I was able to completely flatten a 2x4 before cutting a notch into it to seat a triangular prism of oak. This 2x4 was attached to a sled to pass the oak through an angled table saw blade, carving a point that could then be removed to make dice.
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