We explore St Botolph's priory and play games from the ancient world

 Colchester Young Archaeologists' Club explored the remains of St Botolph's Priory church today and then discovered the footprint of the lost columns, transepts and sanctuary which, since Colchester Archaeological Trust's excavation of the site, are mapped out in concrete and stones. They chose to find spots on the sites of the columns to stand to indicate where they are. We went into the church hall in a shower for activities, which included Aquila. The devisor of this Romano/British game was on hand to explain the strategy. The prototype is from the first century AD and was discovered by Colchester Archaeological Trust in 1996 in the doctor/druid's grave the trust excavated in Stanway, Colchester. The grave is now replicated in Colchester Castle Museum. A YAC volunteer brought in a version of "the oldest game in the world." Played in the past 6,000 years. He said anything could be used, shells, seeds or pebbles in grooves made in sand or ground. Members of the club also dated some more fossils, coprolite and flint from our collection with our "Fossil Fun Quiz". We played the "Hieroglyph" game and a game devised by one of our former YAC leaders called "Will the barrow survive?" This is a game of chance, as the survival of the many barrows on the British isles is chance. The counters were cowrie shells marked with different colours. The hazard penalties outnumbered preservation gains on the board. The winner was the player who lost the least points. The game below, is possibly the oldest game in the world, played in this case with glass counters and a wooden board.