this post was submitted on 25 Feb 2024
329 points (97.4% liked)

What is this thing?

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Let us help you identify that mysterious object you’ve found.

Currently in CHALLENGE mode: If you've got something obscure knocking about, post a picture, and let's see how we do. Please prefix such posts with "CHALLENGE:" so we know we've got a fighting chance.

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[–] stratusfear@lemmy.world 327 points 2 years ago (7 children)

Those are pieces of an onyx chess set. I used to have that exact set. Here's an example from ebay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/276268677793?itmmeta=01HQGDMT5HNWBF8YNWTDN1Q1D5

[–] LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.world 16 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Beat me to it, I had/have a similar set my parents got me on a work trip back in the 90s

[–] PhreakyByNature@feddit.uk 5 points 2 years ago

I assumed they were chess pieces. Don't have this set, never seen it before, but glad my instincts were right.

[–] moistclump@lemmy.world 9 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Now the question remains… what are they doing in a parking lot. And only some of them.

[–] SuckMyWang@lemmy.world 12 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Someone probably just bought the chess set at the last minute for a very important tournament but dropped a few pieces as they hurriedly put it in their car

[–] ElCanut@jlai.lu 2 points 2 years ago
[–] CuddlyCassowary@lemmy.world 5 points 2 years ago

Same. I think I got it on a spring break in Mexico. I vaguely remember quite a few people having them.

[–] fidodo@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

Someone with anger issues just have lost their game

[–] ICastFist@programming.dev 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I wonder what would be future historians' guess as to what those are/were, 2000+ years in a future where a "great loss of knowledge" happened.

[–] uriel238@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 2 years ago (2 children)

We've worked out ancient gaming pieces, and sometimes been able to figure out rules for long dead games.

[–] treadful@lemmy.zip 6 points 2 years ago (3 children)

Usually context is necessary for archeology. Finding these next to a parking lot wouldn't be very helpful.

[–] creditCrazy@lemmy.world 5 points 2 years ago

We've worked out everything about this ancient game however we are still figuring out how playing around cars played a role in the game

[–] JustZ@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago

I feel like whenever archaeology finds something new they're like "this was a massive arena for entertainment, people traveled from possibly thousands of miles away to watch two people play the game in the parking arena."

Like the get it very wrong at first but then figure out more.

[–] uriel238@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 2 years ago

Wait until they find the travel Scrabble pieces!

[–] NegativeInf@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

I keep a Royal Game of Ur on my desk. Lol.

[–] quaddo@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

I also have the exact same set. Black and white.