When Did People Start Playing Dice? New History Revealed

New archaeological evidence suggests that Native Americans were playing games of chance with dice over 12,000 years ago, predating the earliest known dice from the Old World by approximately 6,000 years. This discovery, detailed in a study published in the journal American Antiquity, challenges previous understandings of the origins of gambling and the development of probabilistic thinking.

The research, led by Robert J. Madden, a Ph.D. Student at Colorado State University, analyzed over 600 sets of Native American dice found at 45 prehistoric archaeological sites across the western United States. These dice were present on both sides of the Rocky Mountains, spanning a period from 13,000 to 450 years ago. The findings indicate a long-standing and widespread tradition of games of chance within Indigenous cultures.

Ancient Dice and Their Significance

The dice discovered are not the standardized cubes commonly associated with modern games. Instead, they are described as “binary lots,” essentially primitive coins designed to produce random outcomes. According to ScienceDaily, these weren’t accidental objects but “carefully designed tools used across many regions and cultures.” The study highlights that these artifacts represent the “first evidence we have of structured human engagement with the concepts of chance and randomness,” as stated by Madden.

Previous archaeological understanding positioned the development of dice and probabilistic thought within the Bronze Age societies of the Old World. This new research fundamentally shifts that timeline, demonstrating that these concepts were actively explored and utilized by Native American hunter-gatherers millennia earlier. As Madden explained to NBC News, “We see it right in North America, beginning 12,000 years ago, people really starting to engage with some really complex kinds of intellectual concepts that aren’t grappled with in the Old World until many thousands of years later.”

Beyond Gambling: Social and Economic Roles

While the discovery confirms the existence of gambling in ancient North America, the purpose of these games appears to have extended beyond simple wagering. Live Science reports that the games likely served as a social mechanism for interaction and wealth redistribution, particularly among women. The study suggests that these games facilitated interaction with new acquaintances and helped to redistribute goods and wealth within communities.

Madden’s research involved a comprehensive review of existing archaeological reports, rather than new excavations. He established criteria for identifying dice within the archaeological record, a process that had not been previously formalized. “I did not dig up any new Native American dice,” Madden stated to NBC News. “It just needed somebody to come along and pull it together.” This meticulous analysis of existing data revealed the extent and longevity of dice use across the western United States.

Implications for Understanding Human Cognition

The early development of games of chance and probabilistic thinking in North America has significant implications for our understanding of human cognition. The ability to assess risk, understand randomness, and make decisions based on probability are foundational to modern science, economics, and technology. This discovery suggests that these cognitive skills emerged earlier and in different cultural contexts than previously believed.

The earliest examples of these dice come from Late Pleistocene Folsom-period sites in Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. This places their origin at the end of the last Ice Age, further emphasizing the antiquity of this practice. The findings challenge the traditional historical narrative that attributes these innovations solely to Old World cultures.

As Madden noted in an interview with NBC News, these concepts “end up being foundational to our modern scientific understanding, our modern economy.” The discovery underscores the intellectual sophistication of ancient Native American societies and their contributions to the development of fundamental human cognitive abilities.

The research builds on previous studies of Native American dice, which have been examined for over a century, but lacked a cohesive framework for analysis. Madden’s work provides that framework, establishing a clear timeline and demonstrating the widespread nature of this practice across the western United States.

Further research may focus on understanding the specific rules and social contexts of these ancient games, as well as exploring the potential connections between dice use and other aspects of Native American culture. The discovery of these ancient dice offers a fascinating glimpse into the intellectual lives of early North American inhabitants and challenges long-held assumptions about the origins of gambling and probabilistic thought.