### The Ancient Game of *Hounds and Jackals*: A Recent Find in Azerbaijan
An age-old board game referred to as *Hounds and Jackals*, or *Fifty-Eight Holes*, has historically been linked to ancient Egypt, where it was thought to have originated. Nevertheless, a recent archaeological find in Azerbaijan indicates that the game may have roots in Asia, potentially predating its Egyptian versions. This insight, detailed in a paper published in the *European Journal of Archaeology*, calls into question long-standing beliefs about the game’s origins and underscores the significance of board games in ancient cultures.
#### A Game of Antiquity
*Hounds and Jackals* is a competitive race game akin to modern games such as backgammon. Players strive to advance their pieces—typically resembling hounds or jackals—across a board with two parallel rows of 29 holes. The goal is to be the first to navigate all pieces from the starting position to the larger hole at the board’s end. The game was initially identified by modern researchers in 1890, and since then, approximately 60 examples have emerged from sites in Egypt, Mesopotamia, Israel, Syria, Iran, and Azerbaijan.
The earliest known iteration of the game harks back to the era of Mentuhotep II (2064–1952 BCE) in Egypt, where it was a favored pastime among the elite. However, the recent finding in Azerbaijan implies that the game might have existed even earlier in Asia, prompting inquiries into its authentic origins.
#### The Discovery in Azerbaijan
In 2018, archaeologist Walter Crist, a co-author of the study, made a significant discovery at the Çapmalı rock shelter located near the western coast of the Caspian Sea in Azerbaijan. Crist and his team uncovered a game board etched into stone, exhibiting the recognizable pattern of 58 holes set in two parallel rows. This board bore a striking resemblance to other *Hounds and Jackals* boards unearthed in Egypt and southwestern Asia.
The Çapmalı site, along with nearby areas including Ağdaşdüzü, Yeni Türkan, and Dübəndi, produced pottery fragments and other artifacts indicating that the game was played by shepherds and locals during the Middle Bronze Age. The researchers propose that these communities engaged with the game as a leisure activity during the protracted winter months, finding refuge in rock formations like Çapmalı.
#### A Broader Context
The unearthing of the *Hounds and Jackals* board in Azerbaijan is part of a larger trend in archaeology that has revealed ancient board games from diverse parts of the world. For example, a 4,000-year-old board discovered in Oman’s Qumayrah Valley is thought to be a precursor to the *Royal Game of Ur*, another ancient race game that may have impacted the evolution of backgammon. In a similar vein, a 500-year-old board for the game *Mill* (also known as *Nine Men’s Morris*) was recently uncovered in the ruins of Ćmielów Castle in Poland, illustrating how ancient games surpassed cultural and geographical divides.
The distribution of *Hounds and Jackals* over such an extensive area—from Egypt to Mesopotamia and now Azerbaijan—attests to the game’s popularity and its function as a social instrument. The researchers posit that the game may have encouraged interactions among different social groups, acting as a “social lubricant” that fostered connections and communication, much like contemporary board games.
#### Challenges in Dating the Game
While the discovery in Azerbaijan is exhilarating, the researchers caution that accurately dating the game poses a challenge. The Middle Bronze Age context of the Çapmalı site implies that the game may have been played in the region before its introduction in Egypt, but additional evidence is necessary for confirmation. “Clearly, further early evidence for the game from precisely dated contexts is required to credit a specific culture for inventing the game,” the authors noted.
Regardless of its precise origins, the swift spread of *Hounds and Jackals* across such a broad area highlights the game’s cultural importance. It served not merely as a form of amusement but also as a means to nurture social cohesion and interaction among diverse societies.
#### Conclusion
The discovery of a *Hounds and Jackals* board in Azerbaijan enriches our comprehension of ancient board games and their significance in human history. While the game has long been connected to Egypt, this new finding suggests its beginnings might extend further east into Asia. As archaeologists persist in uncovering more data, we may soon gain further insights into how this ancient game traversed various cultures and what it reveals about the people who engaged with it.
Meanwhile, the game of *Hounds and Jackals* remains a captivating illustration of how ancient societies employed games not solely for entertainment but as a means of forging connections across time and space.
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**European Journal of Archaeology**, 2024
