Archaeologists working on the Maya Train project in southern Mexico have uncovered nine ancient patolli game boards during an excavation near the town of Xpujil, Campeche. The discovery, part of the archaeological rescue efforts led by the National Insтιтute of Anthropology and History (INAH), dates back over 1,000 years to the Late Classic period (600–900 CE).

Patolli as depicted in Bernardino de Sahagún’s General History of the Things of New Spain. Credit: Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana Digital – Public Domain

The patolli boards were carved into a stucco floor measuring approximately 37 feet long and 9 feet wide. According to archaeologist Félix Camacho Zamora, coordinator of the Conservation Area of the Maya Train Archaeological Rescue Project, the engravings were in a severely deteriorated state when discovered. The carvings suffered from cracks, fractures, surface loss, and disintegration, requiring immediate conservation measures.

Patolli is an ancient game with a blend of strategy and luck, commonly played by the Maya, Aztecs, and other Mesoamerican civilizations. The game involved moving pieces—often beans or stones—around a board engraved with lines, which could take various shapes, such as squares, circles, or diffuse designs. The game was not only a pastime but also had significant ritual importance, as it was ᴀssociated with deities, offerings, and calendrical events. According to Camacho, “Patolli reflected the social and spiritual complexity of the cultures that inhabited this region.”

The rescue team, led by Camacho, took steps to stabilize the stucco surface. Emergency conservation efforts included injecting lime water to bind the stucco and applying perimeter fillers to prevent further damage. The engravings were carefully documented through sketches, pH๏τographs, and pH๏τogrammetry before they were removed for transport to a restoration laboratory in Chetumal, Quintana Roo. There, the game boards are being preserved and restored for long-term conservation.

The variety in the shapes of the game boards—two circular, four square, and three with more diffuse lines—suggests that the boards may have been used for different purposes or in different periods of construction. This diversity hints at the possible symbolic or social significance the games held in Mesoamerican culture.

Archaeologist Alfredo Saucedo Zavala, who was in charge of the excavation, noted that the ceremonial complex where the boards were found had undergone at least two phases of construction. It is believed that the patolli boards were created during the later phase, although ceramic analyses will provide further confirmation. The boards’ ᴀssociation with civic spaces indicates that they may have been used by elites during important social gatherings or negotiations.

The ongoing restoration work is part of a larger effort to preserve the cultural heritage uncovered during the Maya Train’s construction. This discovery adds to the growing body of knowledge about the role of games in ancient Mesoamerican society, revealing that patolli was not merely a form of entertainment but also served as a medium for social interaction, diplomacy, and spiritual practice.

In addition to the patolli boards, two nearby ceremonial centers from the Late Classic period were also uncovered, providing further insight into the region’s ancient cultural and political landscape.

More information: INAH