Game Piece from La Belle
Traditional games provided amusement at sea
This game piece was discovered as part of the 1996 excavation of La Belle in Matagorda Bay. La Belle and the other ships in René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle’s 1684-85 expedition were at sea for almost five months. During that time, the ship's crew amused themselves in a variety of ways, including playing board games like backgammon. Many such games, played with pieces, tiles, or dice, have their roots in games played in Europe and the Middle East for hundreds or even thousands of years.
Lender
Property of France from the collection of the Musée National de la Marine. Loan courtesy of the Texas Historical Commission, Austin
About
Housewares
1 8/10" Diameter X 1 8/10" Height X 27/100" Width
1680s
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