Ancient stone board game from 3rd millennium unearthed in Oman

Muscat: A rare stone board has been discovered for the first time in the Sultanate of Oman. It dates back to the third millennium BC, said the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism.

"The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, in cooperation with an archaeological mission from the University of Warsaw in the Polish Republic, revealed a game that is a rare stone board discovered for the first time in the Sultanate of Oman. It is similar to chess or as it is known locally, 'Hawalis' and dates back to the third millennium BC," the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry added that the stone board was discovered in one of the archaeological sites, 'Qumaira' which is one of the most important sites from the Bronze Age associated with the copper trade of the Majan civilisation with the civilisations of Dilmun and Mesopotamia (currently Iraq).