Native American dice used in gambling 12,000 years ago on Western Great Plains

Native American dice used in gambling 12,000 years ago on Western Great Plains. 293 sets of historic Native American dice documented in a 1907 compendium of Native American games Two-sided dice made of bone or wood were used as randomizing agents in games of chance and gambling Native American groups on the Western Great Plains were making and using dice no later than 12,000 years ago

Researchers have documented 293 sets of historic Native American dice from 1907, revealing two-sided bone and wood dice served as randomizing agents for games of chance and gambling at least 12,000 years ago. These artifacts appear throughout North American prehistory from diverse groups, showing games of chance represented cultural practices of remarkable antiquity on the Western Great Plains.

Key Facts

• 293 sets of historic Native American dice documented in a 1907 compendium of Native American games
• Two-sided dice made of bone or wood were used as randomizing agents in games of chance and gambling
• Native American groups on the Western Great Plains were making and using dice no later than 12,000 years ago
• These artifacts appear in archaeological assemblages from diverse groups throughout all periods of North American prehistory
• Native American games of chance and gambling represent cultural practices of remarkable antiquity

Source: Latest #Archaeology Discoveries: April 2026 by Inside Archaeology