Object number1989.036.280
DescriptionGaming board fragment with graffiti. The gaming board was found during excavation of a Late Iron Age house at the Red Craig in Birsay, Orkney. The gaming board was originally a stone of portable size with a grid of seven lines in each direction incised on one face. When found it was broken across with about half remaining. It would seem most likely that the Red Craig graffito is a four legged Pictish animal. Red Craig house, Brough Road, Birsay: excavated 1978. Area 3.
Fragment of stone gaming board. Calcareous mudstone/siltstone flag. Four horizontal and seven vertical lines scratched on one face form rough checker-board pattern. Scratched markings or graffito below gaming board face. Iron deposit adhering to upper face also.
Collection PlaceBrough Road, Birsay
Object namegaming board
Materialstone