Caveman casino! Humans began gambling 12,000 YEARS ago, scientists say - as they discover ancient dice in the western Great Plains
Scientists discovered 12,000-year-old dice in the Great Plains, suggesting gambling dates back to the last Ice Age.Summary
A team from Colorado State University unearthed the earliest evidence of two-sided dice crafted from bone, dating back 12,000 years to the last Ice Age in the western Great Plains. These findings predate the previously known oldest dice by over 6,000 years and indicate that gambling and games of chance have been a long-standing part of North American culture. Researchers identified nearly 600 probable dice from sites across North America, demonstrating the breadth and persistence of Native American dice games. These 'binary lots' were carefully crafted and used in structured games, suggesting ancient Native American groups were intentionally creating and utilizing random outcomes. The study highlights that these games served as 'powerful social technologies,' facilitating interaction, exchange, alliance-building, and uncertainty management among different groups.
(Source：Daily Mail Online)