Lewis Chessmen

Long, long ago, over 800 years ago, someone hid a special box filled with chess pieces. They were found on a windy island called Lewis in Scotland. These aren't just any chess pieces; they are carved from the tusks of walruses! Some look like kings and queens, but others are a bit different, like brave warriors. It's like finding a treasure chest full of ancient toys that tell a story.

Nobody knows exactly who made these chess pieces or why they were hidden. They are super old, from the 1100s! That's even older than your grandparents' grandparents. They were found buried near a place called Uig. Imagine digging in the sand and finding something so old and cool! It's a mystery that makes them even more exciting.

These chess pieces are like a time machine. They show us how people played games a very, very long time ago. They are also made from walrus ivory, which was a special material back then. Most of the pieces are now in big museums, like the British Museum, so lots of people can see them. It’s like they are famous movie stars of the ancient world!

When the pieces were found, there were 94 things in the box. But not all of them were chess pieces. There were also pieces for other games, like checkers, and even a belt buckle! Sadly, some of the chess pieces are still missing. It’s like a puzzle with a few pieces lost, but the ones we have are still super interesting to look at.