Playable Roman Game Replicas

Newcastle University Unveiled Its 3D-Printed Game Board

Newcastle University partnered with the Vindolanda Charitable Trust to 3D scan and print a playable replica of a roughly 1,700-year-old Roman game board. The original five-piece stone board was created for Ludus Latrunculorum, a two-player strategy game, and was excavated at Vindolanda in 2019.

Researchers scanned each piece separately using a handheld Artec 3D Spider scanner, generating detailed positional data for a complete digital model. The board was then reproduced in biodegradable PLA, preserving its geometry and surface details while allowing the original artifact to remain protected. The same scan files were also used to create an interactive digital model that visitors can rotate and examine.

The replica remains at Vindolanda’s Roman Army Museum for public handling while the original is on loan to Toronto’s Bata Shoe Museum. By transforming a fragile archaeological object into a durable teaching tool, the project demonstrates how 3D scanning and additive manufacturing can expand access to tactile history and support more immersive museum experiences.

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