Ancient Native American Dice: A 12,000-Year-Old Legacy of Gambling and Social Interaction

A recent study by Colorado State University archaeologist Robert J. Madden has revealed that Native Americans were crafting and using dice for games of chance over 12,000 years ago, significantly predating the earliest known dice from Bronze Age societies in the Old World by more than 6,000 years. The research, published in the journal *American Antiquity* on April 2, 2026, identified over 600 artifacts classified as two-sided dice, referred to as "binary lots," from 57 archaeological sites across 12 states, including Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. These artifacts date back to the Late Pleistocene, specifically the Folsom Period, approximately 12,800 to 12,200 years ago.

Native Americans created dice more than 12,000 years ago, study findsCNNEarth & SkyThe Jerusalem Post12,000 Years Ago, Native Americans Were Playing Games of Chance with Handmade DiceHyperallergicBefore Casinos, Before Ancient Rome: Ice Age Americans Were Rolling the Dice

Madden's study highlights that these binary lots were meticulously crafted from materials such as bone and wood, often featuring distinct markings on one side to indicate a counting face. Unlike modern cubic dice, these two-sided pieces were designed to produce random outcomes, serving as tools for structured games. The findings suggest that these games were not merely recreational but played a crucial role in social interactions among different groups, providing neutral spaces for trade, alliance formation, and cultural exchange.

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The research indicates that dice games were integral to Native American culture, functioning as social technologies that facilitated interaction among disparate groups. Madden posits that the creation and use of dice represent early human engagement with concepts of randomness and probability, marking a significant intellectual achievement. He noted, “When humans start making dice, that is the first evidence that we have of people engaging with and starting to understand concepts of randomness and probability.”

Earth & SkyNative Americans created dice more than 12,000 years ago, study findsThe Jerusalem PostBefore Casinos, Before Ancient Rome: Ice Age Americans Were Rolling the DiceCNNHyperallergic12,000 Years Ago, Native Americans Were Playing Games of Chance with Handmade Dice

While Madden's findings have garnered attention, some experts express skepticism regarding the classification of these artifacts as dice. Jelmer Eerkens, a professor of anthropology at the University of California, Davis, argues that more contextual information is needed to definitively determine their function. He stated, “I think the study has flawed logic that could easily allow some items to be classified as dice when they actually were not used in such a fashion.” This highlights the ongoing debate within the archaeological community regarding the interpretation of ancient artifacts.

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Madden's research not only reshapes the understanding of the history of dice but also emphasizes the complexity of social interactions among prehistoric societies. The ability to create games of chance suggests a sophisticated understanding of probabilistic thinking that has implications for the broader narrative of human intellectual development. As Madden concluded, “Games of chance and gambling created neutral, rule-governed spaces for ancient Native Americans, allowing people from different groups to interact and manage uncertainty.”

Before Casinos, Before Ancient Rome: Ice Age Americans Were Rolling the DiceNative Americans created dice more than 12,000 years ago, study findsEarth & SkyThe Jerusalem PostHyperallergicCNN12,000 Years Ago, Native Americans Were Playing Games of Chance with Handmade Dice

• “What the archaeological record shows is that ancient Native American groups were deliberately making objects designed to produce random outcomes and using those outcomes in structured games thousands of years earlier than previously recognised.” — Robert J. Madden, Archaeologist

Native Americans created dice more than 12,000 years ago, study finds

• “But what people don’t realize is that when humans start making dice, that is the first evidence that we have of people engaging with and starting to understand concepts of randomness and probability.” — Robert J. Madden, Archaeologist

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• “Games of chance and gambling created neutral, rule-governed spaces for ancient Native Americans.” — Robert J. Madden, Archaeologist

Before Casinos, Before Ancient Rome: Ice Age Americans Were Rolling the Dice

Madden's study opens new avenues for understanding the role of games in ancient cultures and invites further exploration into the social dynamics of early human societies.

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