The “game boards” carved into the rocks at Kasaragod suggest an ancient leisure-only existence

Historian Nandakumar Koroth (right) and archeology enthusiast Satheesan Kaliyana near the rock carvings at Madikkai in Kasaragod district, which are believed to offer clues to the gaming traditions of prehistoric communities. | Photo credit: negotiable

Rock-cut game boards resembling the traditional 14-hole Manjadippala or Kadippala boards used in Kerala have been discovered at Madikkai Umichi, Banam and Cheemeni Ariyittapara in Kasaragod district, providing possible evidence that people in the region engaged in recreational activities thousands of years ago.

Six distinct game boards have been identified so far; four in Banam; one at Umichi in Madikkai; and one Ariyittapara in Cheemeni. All of them are located near natural water reservoirs, locally known as Pallam, in Kasaragod district.

A ‘game plan’ reminiscent of the 14-hole Manjadippal rock-hewn at Kasaragod. | Photo credit: negotiable

The discovery suggests that the people of the region had recreational opportunities and an understanding of counting and numerical relationships, noted Nandakumar Koroth, head of the history department at Nehru Arts and Science College in Kanhangad. The find came to light after archeology enthusiast Satheesan Kaliyana pointed out unusual rock-cut pits in the area.

“The rock carvings indicate that the people who lived in these areas may have played games in their free time. The similarity between these ancient structures and the traditional Manjadikkali boards that people used about 40 years ago is particularly significant,” said Dr. Koroth.

Need for conservation

He said they could have been made with stone tools such as Celtic or iron tools. However, further archaeological research and scientific dating is needed to determine their exact age. The state archaeological department or Archaeological Survey Of India should step in to document and protect the rock-cut slabs, the researchers said, adding that conservation is urgent as several carvings have already been buried or are located in areas affected by construction and proposed development projects.

However, senior archaeologist and former archeology professor Ajith Kumar cautioned against assigning a specific antiquity to the carvings without further evidence. While the structures could be identified as game boards resembling Pallankuzhi, their discovery near other archaeological remains did not prove that they belonged to the same period.

He said Pallankuzhi is a traditional game played on a board containing two parallel rows of holes, usually seven in each row. Some boards have larger depressions that serve specific functions in the game. The seeds, including tamarind seeds, are traditionally used as counters. Dr. Ajith said that game boards of this kind are not limited to Kasaragod or Kerala.

Similar examples have been reported at several archaeological sites in South India, including Tamil Nadu and parts of Karnataka. Similar structures have been documented in the dark volcanic basalt rock at the Deccan College in Pune, its nearby temple precincts, and the Aurangabad cave complex. Archaeologists have also identified comparable Mancala tablets in Africa, which are believed to be approximately 8,000 years old.

The “spiritual” angle

He noted that some researchers have suggested that certain carved features found alongside human figures at rock art sites may have been related to the belief in ghosts. One interpretation suggests that games or other activities may have been intended to amuse the spirits and prevent them from returning to places where they might cause trouble. However, he emphasized that such explanations remained speculative and were not supported by conclusive scientific evidence linking board games to spiritual practices.

Dr. Ajith said that while the boards may reflect a long tradition of playing such games, their similarity to a game that survives into modern times makes dating particularly difficult. The fact that similar games were played in later periods means that the carvings cannot be automatically assigned to the Neolithic or Megalithic periods. Furthermore, natural processes in laterite can create formations that could be mistaken for man-made ones.

The question of when the plates were actually carved therefore remained open, he added.

Published – 23 Oct 2026 07:00 IST