NOT SO DARK AGES :

Ancient chess history unearthed (BBC, 27 July, 2002)

A team of British archaeologists have unearthed evidence suggesting that Europeans were playing chess as early as the sixth century.

An ivory chess piece, excavated at a Byzantine palace in what is now southern Albania, is more than 500 years older than any previously discovered. [...]

Until now chess historians had agreed that the game only became popular with the European elite during the 12th century, 700 years after it was invented in China, India or ancient Persia.

Posted by Orrin Judd at July 29, 2002 11:41 AM