Split Appearance. Patchy and Coherent Features in Fragments of Gameplay, Mohenjo-daro, Sindh

This paper centers on ancient, generally rather scattered and elusive remains of gameplay. Focusing on a discreteassemblage of game-related artefacts from the Bronze Age Indus Valley urban settlement of Mohenjo-daro, it conductsa detailed study of some of the patchy features to see whether more structured elements thereby can be distinguished.The finds are approached situated in a broader, game-related context through a short recapitulation of findings at roughlycontemporary sites in Egypt, Western Asia, and Iran. Thereafter is intra-site, spatial features of the finds explored, aswell as particularities in appearance. While the playing of games is a rather universal human enterprise, its forms andexpressions may likewise be seen as highly sensitive to the specific, social environment and fluctuations. Because of thisintra-societal affiliation, identifying patterns of ancient gaming is suggested to contribute both to site-specific inquiriesand investigations of interregional distinctions and influences.