Irving Finkel Plays the Royal Game of Ur with Tom Scott

Ancient history becomes wonderfully immediate when someone starts taking a board game seriously. British Museum curator Irving Finkel teaches Tom Scott the Royal Game of Ur, then joins him for a match. The result is part demonstration, part friendly contest, with plenty of room for Finkel’s enthusiasm.

Original video: Tom Scott vs Irving Finkel: The Royal Game of Ur | PLAYTHROUGH | International Tabletop Day 2017 — The British Museum · 25:33 · YouTube upload: 2017-04-28. Video and preview image belong to the original creator.

Why watch this video?

The video offers a different route into Mesopotamia from the usual kings-and-battles narrative. A board, a set of pieces and written rules bring ordinary pleasures into view. It is an approachable watch for anyone curious about how scholars turn inscriptions and archaeological objects into something people can understand and try today.

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