Archaeological research is increasingly turning to digital tools to illuminate the daily lives of ancient civilizations, and a new project is focusing on a surprisingly revealing source: games. Funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation, the *Graffiti in the shadow of the Acropolis. Gaming, people and urban landscape* project is meticulously documenting and analyzing ancient graffiti across Attica, Greece, with many markings believed to be game boards [[1]]. Researchers are moving beyond simply deciphering rules to understand how these playful markings reshaped public spaces and offer insights into ancient social interactions.
1Archaeological research is increasingly leveraging digital tools to unlock insights into ancient societies, and a new project is focusing on the often-overlooked world of ancient games. The study of games provides a unique window into the social, cultural, and symbolic structures of past civilizations.
- 1 Graffiti in the shadow of the Acropolis. Gaming, people and urban landscape (2025-2028) – programme Graffiti in the shadow of the Acropolis. Gaming, people and urban landscape
2Funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation, the project Graffiti in the shadow of the Acropolis. Gaming, people and urban landscape, led by Barbara Carè (University of Lausanne) with contributions from Sylvian Fachard and Yannick Rochat1, is centering its work on non-textual graffiti. The project aims to create one of the most comprehensive datasets available by cataloging both previously documented and newly discovered non-textual graffiti across the ancient Attica region. These geometric patterns, often incised into floors, steps, and architectural elements, are frequently interpreted as game boards. This research highlights the growing trend of applying computational methods to archaeological questions.
3The project, situated at the intersection of archaeology, game studies, and digital humanities, takes an innovative approach that moves beyond simply reconstructing game rules. Researchers are analyzing the graffiti as genuine archaeological artifacts, considering their architectural, spatial, and social contexts. By focusing on the materiality, the experience of play, and the conditions under which these markings were created, the team hopes to offer fresh interpretations. These engravings, often dismissed as minor details, reveal how public spaces were appropriated and how monuments were repurposed, shedding light on everyday life in ancient cities. This is particularly evident in the graffiti found on buildings within the Acropolis of Athens, including the Parthenon, which were once considered sacred and off-limits to common activities.
4A key component of the project involves establishing shared documentation standards and a controlled vocabulary to enhance data analysis, comparability, and interoperability. The research utilizes a large-scale GIS geodatabase, populated with systematic field documentation including detailed metric surveys, surface analyses, photography under various lighting conditions, vector graphics, and advanced photogrammetry and 3D scanning techniques. These methods, rarely applied to the study of playful graffiti, allow for precise observation of engraving techniques, conservation status, and spatial integration of the patterns.
- 2 The project is conducted in collaboration with COST Action « GameTable. Computational Techniques for Tabl GameTable. Computational Techniques for Tabular Games and Their Digital Reconstruction
5The project also incorporates computational tools from the field of digital archaeoludology. In collaboration with international initiatives2, particularly ambiguous configurations are being evaluated using probabilistic methods and artificial intelligence-based tools. These approaches aim to differentiate genuine game boards from other types of markings that may have served symbolic, ritualistic, or graphic functions, and to better understand the evolution of game forms and practices over time and space. The integration of AI reflects a broader trend in archaeology towards automated analysis of complex datasets.
6By combining traditional archaeological methods with cutting-edge digital technologies, Graffiti à l’ombre de l’Acropole is opening new avenues for the study of ancient games. The project underscores the role of games as a social practice deeply embedded in the urban environment, capable of transforming spaces, uses, and relationships within the ancient city, and contributes to a renewed understanding of the urban landscape as a lived, practiced, and continuously reshaped environment.
