Gaming Piece and Die, Battle Abbey

These pieces, found north of reredorter, are very small – the die is just 6mm across. The brickwork pattern on the side of the gaming piece was produced by grooving the horizontal lines on a lathe and then carving vertical incisions.

Playing games provided the monks with relief from the rigour of the monastic routine. Dicing may even have had some educational function, equipping monks with basic mathematical skills. Gambling, however, was strictly forbidden. The abbey’s guests would also have amused themselves by playing dice and other games.