Scientists in Israel have discovered ancient animals' knucklebones used to foretell the future and as a form of spiritual protection in the wild and unpredictable ancient world. They were also the pieces in a game of fate known as “astragalomancy.”
The Beit Guvrin-Maresha National Park in central Israel, about 13 kilometers (8 miles) from Kiryat Gat, encloses Maresha. This was an important town in Judah during the time of the First Temple. Located in the Judean “Shephelah” (southern lowlands) Maresha thrived in Biblical times and all the way through the Hellenistic period.
It was here that archaeologists recently discovered a collection of small animal bones. A Times of Israel report says after studying the artifacts it was determined they represented pieces from an ancient game. And playing this game involved the fates and destinies of participants, or at least they thought so!
