Pitt Rivers Museum Anthropology and World Archaology

 

Europe

 

Knucklebones

Italy

 

Collected by Henry Balfour

Given to the Museum in 1895

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Knucklebones, Italy

Knucklebones, also known as jacks, was played in ancient Greece and Rome. It involved throwing knucklebone-shaped sheep anklebones into the air and catching as many as possible on the back of the hand. Ancient Greek knucklebones, or astragali, was a popular game amongst young women and children.

View database record 1895.9.15-.18