AI Decodes Rules of Ancient Roman Board Game

Researchers used AI to decode the rules of a 2,000-year-old Roman board game found in the Netherlands ^[1][2]. The artifact, a limestone slab from ancient Coriovallum, had puzzled experts due to its unique engravings ^[3][4]. Scientists combined microscopic wear analysis with AI gameplay simulations to identify the object as a "blocking game" ^[2][4]. The study, published in the journal Antiquity, used the Ludii AI system to simulate thousands of matches ^[1][3]. Simulations matched physical wear on the stone to a strategy game where four pieces play against two ^[2][4]. Researchers named the game Ludus Coriovalli, pushing the history of blockade games back by several centuries ^[1][3].