The oldest chess pieces were found in 1977 at Afrasiab near Samarkand in todays Uzbekistan. They are dated about 760 AD (because a coin dated 761 belonged to the same layer). They are made of ivory and consist of 7 pieces, see picture: 2 Pawns, a Bishop, a Knight, a Visier?, a Rook and a King. The pieces are based on the 4 divisions of the old Indian army: soldier for Pawn, elephant for Bishop, cavalry for Knight and chariot for Rook.
- 18 century
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