Incised Stone Plaque of the San Agustin Culture, Probably Used as a Game Board

Culture: San Agustin Culture/Colombia

Period: 0-500 A.D.

Material: Sandstone

Dimensions: 22.4 cm x 36.2 cm

Price: 4 000 Euro

Ref: 11088

Provenance: Austrian private collection of Prof. Josef Mairitsch (1938-1994), with the inventory number M30. Acquired between 1960 and the early 1980s. Since then in family ownership. With a copy of the inventory list and the old collection note.

Condition: Unrestored, with a beautiful age patina.

Description: Interesting map incised into a smoothed sandstone slab, probably depicting a village with fields and a ceremonial site. The stone engraving originates from the San Agustin culture of Colombia. The composition follows the roughly triangular shape of the stone. On the left, equally sized rectangles are arranged vertically, likely representing fields. To the right of these is a larger area with a large X within a square, which may be interpreted as a ceremonial site. A downward-pointing arrow appears to indicate a processional route. Further to the right are several larger rectangles arranged at a slight angle, perhaps representing the village itself. A horizontal arrow pointing right indicates a further direction. It is possible that the plan also served as a game board, as is known from the Peruvian Chimú culture. In the high Andes region, people played a game known by names such as Tauva, Chuke, or Kima in order to pass the time during the challenging winter months and to compete for vital resources. Carved wooden “dice” were apparently used to move game pieces, perhaps from one end of the board to the other. Victory in the game by one or more players symbolically multiplied resources and increased the spiritual favour of everyone in the community. Mounted.