An object recognised as a game piece (fig. 1) emerged from the Sant’Eulalia area earth layers.

Fig. 1 - Game element (photo by AFS).

The ivory item appears to be decorated by seven etched circles, a decoration called "eye of the nut", arranged around a central one. Another groove runs along the edge. Those elements were possibly highlighted by painting. One example, dated V century and found in the residential district of the town of Baia di Scauri, on Pantelleria, is a close comparison to the Cagliari one (fig. 2).

Fig. 2 - Ivory game element from Baia di Scauri, Pantelleria (from Baldassarri 2010, p. 33, fig. 33).

The “piece” is linked to the ancient practice of the ludus of checkers (fig. 3), included in gambling, always very popular but sometimes strongly contested. In Roman times, people gambled in specific places or in public places and it was usually forbidden: it was only legal during the Saturnalia period, that is during festivities in honour of the god Saturn, and most games of chance were only "legalised” during the Antonine dynasty. In the Middle Ages, gambling was only permitted in public areas, usually under porticoes and in squares.

Fig. 3 - Tabula lusoria: game board on which pieces were arranged (from http://www.ilpatrimonioartistico.it/il-gioco-dazzardo-nellantichita-pt-2/gioco-dazzardo_09-4/)