Some Evidence That Backgammon Originated in Iran

Backgammon is one of the games commonly played by people visiting casinos. It is a game of chance but more people considered it as a game that requires mental skill. Backgammon is a board game wherein players aim to remove their checkers on their boards. To start the game, players will roll their own die and the player who gets the higher number will be the first to move.

To prevent one's opponent from winning the game, a player should know the different strategies or techniques used in blocking the checkers of the other player. Due to the skills required in playing the game, backgammon encourages players and spectators to place bets about the outcome of a particular game.

Just like any other gambling games, many people believed that backgammon was present in ancient times. Studies showed that some early civilizations considered backgammon as one of their recreational activities. Archaeologists studied the transformations in the rules and strategies used in playing the game. They also observed the changes made in the appearance of the board used in backgammon through time.

Evidences uncovered by historians showed that the game may have started in the ancient civilization Mesopotamia, which is now known as Iraq. There are artifacts discovered by archaeologists that have similarities with the materials needed in playing backgammon. However, in December 2004, a group of archaeologist from Italy and Iran had uncovered a rectangular board that they believed to be the original version of the game.

The evidence was unearthed in the Shahr-e Sukhteh city of Iran. Archaeologists believed that the material which the board was made originated from India. The board was discovered by the team to be made from ebony. Along with the board of the game, they also uncovered 60 pieces or pegs. The discovery of the pegs showed that ancient people play backgammon with a different set of rules.

The argument that the board game is the original version of backgammon is still under study. Many people and public are still studying the authenticity and validity of the artifact unearthed by the group.

Even if the discovery of the evidence is still under debate, it showed that backgammon is used by ancient people to relax and have fun. The artifact also proved that gambling was present in the ancient time. The popularity of backgammon in early civilizations might affect the increasing interest of people in playing the board game at the present era.