The Gokstad Tafl / Nine Men's Morris Board

The fragmentary remains of a 13 x 13 tafl board with a Nine Men's Morris board on the reverse was recovered from the Viking Gokstad ship burial mound at Gokstad in Sandar, Sandefjord, Vestfold, Norway, excavated in the late nineteenth century. The ship is dated to around 900AD. On the original board some of the squares were shaded, but their function is not known, and they have been left off this board.

Quarter-sawn oak board, with tafl board on one side and Nine Men's Morris on the reverse; with beechwood pieces, which are supplied in a leather pouch. Comes with rules and historical notes to the full range of tafl games; plus rules to Nine Men's Morris.

All our oak boards are made from quarter-sawn oak, each with their own distinctive figuring; so board supplied may differ slightly from that shown in the picture.

• Wooden board c.14" x 14"; squares c.1" diameter
• Playing pieces of beech wood
• One king; 16 white pieces; 32 black pieces
• White pieces are the natural wood colour; coloured pieces stained
• Pieces are 7/8" diameter
• Pieces supplied in a leather pouch

Historic Period or Date:

• c.9th to 10th century

Materials and Special Features:

• Quarter-sawn oak board
• Beechwood pieces
• Leather pouch with leather drawstring

Dimensions:

• Board: c. 14" x 14"
• Playing pieces: 7/8" diameter