this post was submitted on 25 Feb 2024
370 points (97.7% liked)

What is this thing?

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[–] stratusfear@lemmy.world 354 points 1 year ago (8 children)

Those are pieces of an onyx chess set. I used to have that exact set. Here's an example from ebay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/276268677793?itmmeta=01HQGDMT5HNWBF8YNWTDN1Q1D5

[–] Stamets@lemmy.world 116 points 1 year ago (6 children)

Amazing. 4 minute answer for something very specific. Truly incredible.

[–] AndOfTheSevenSeas@lemmy.world 44 points 1 year ago

Honestly, given how small lemmy is comparatively, this precision and time frame is awesome. I’m glad I’m here!

[–] Unlocalhost@lemmy.world 29 points 1 year ago (5 children)

Damn, I thought they were dalek's

[–] DemBoSain@midwest.social 23 points 1 year ago

Dalek to Queen's Rook 5. Exterminate.

[–] Stamets@lemmy.world 14 points 1 year ago

Well now I can't unsee that, dammit

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[–] Annoyed_Crabby@monyet.cc 11 points 1 year ago

Sign of Lemmy gaining traction.

[–] Adalast@lemmy.world 10 points 1 year ago

I had it immediately as well, just clicked to see if my answer was needed. I still have the set in a box somewhere.

[–] WbrJr@lemmy.ml 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yeah, this new AI is getting better and better!

[–] pearsaltchocolatebar@discuss.online 15 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Everyone is a bot except for you

[–] thefartographer@lemm.ee 8 points 1 year ago

I am not a bot, I am hooman just like you. I also do not consume oil or require batteries inserted in my anus, just like all of us normal hoomans.

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[–] LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.world 16 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Beat me to it, I had/have a similar set my parents got me on a work trip back in the 90s

[–] PhreakyByNature@feddit.uk 5 points 1 year ago

I assumed they were chess pieces. Don't have this set, never seen it before, but glad my instincts were right.

[–] moistclump@lemmy.world 11 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Now the question remains… what are they doing in a parking lot. And only some of them.

[–] SuckMyWang@lemmy.world 14 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Someone probably just bought the chess set at the last minute for a very important tournament but dropped a few pieces as they hurriedly put it in their car

[–] ElCanut@jlai.lu 2 points 1 year ago
[–] andrew_bidlaw@sh.itjust.works 6 points 1 year ago

Chess 2.0 won't need them. OP missed it's inventor by mere minutes.

[–] CuddlyCassowary@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

Same. I think I got it on a spring break in Mexico. I vaguely remember quite a few people having them.

[–] ICastFist@programming.dev 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I wonder what would be future historians' guess as to what those are/were, 2000+ years in a future where a "great loss of knowledge" happened.

[–] uriel238@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

We've worked out ancient gaming pieces, and sometimes been able to figure out rules for long dead games.

[–] treadful@lemmy.zip 7 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Usually context is necessary for archeology. Finding these next to a parking lot wouldn't be very helpful.

[–] creditCrazy@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago

We've worked out everything about this ancient game however we are still figuring out how playing around cars played a role in the game

[–] JustZ@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

I feel like whenever archaeology finds something new they're like "this was a massive arena for entertainment, people traveled from possibly thousands of miles away to watch two people play the game in the parking arena."

Like the get it very wrong at first but then figure out more.

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[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Something something "fertility ritual", most likely.

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[–] Toneswirly@lemmy.world 68 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Thought they were chess pieces and was pleasantly surprised to see someone confirmed it

[–] nexussapphire@lemm.ee 17 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)
[–] kalpol@lemmy.world 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I had it as a kid. Mexican souvenir set of onyx.

[–] quaddo@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

Same. Parents brought a set back with them for me. Black and white.

[–] creditCrazy@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

I was thinking ancient dalic chess peices

[–] GladiusB@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

Yea. That was my first reaction too.

[–] 8bittech@lemmy.world 64 points 1 year ago (3 children)

They are chess pieces, and this image pains me. I have this set and am missing the pawn in the center of the picture.

[–] everett@lemmy.ml 14 points 1 year ago

OP, we need some GPS coordinates over here.

[–] ikidd@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

I'd get some soapstone and carve one, they look pretty rudimentary. Even a bumblefuck like me could manage it.

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[–] Agent641@lemmy.world 54 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I spilled chess pieces all over myself while in the parking lot getting in my car & a black teenager shouted "This brother playin' chess!" And everybody laughed.

[–] TonyTonyChopper@mander.xyz 4 points 1 year ago
[–] Flumpkin@slrpnk.net 27 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Chess pieces made out of stone. Stone is not recyclable or biodegradable or compostable. If you throw them in the landfill they will be there for millions of years. This is a pretty minor spill though.

[–] Asafum 20 points 1 year ago (2 children)

It's really disgusting how people just toss their old used stones out into the wilderness like they're just rocks or something... Smh damn litterbugs

[–] intensely_human@lemm.ee 14 points 1 year ago

Microstone is everywhere. Soon most of the planet’s beaches will be covered with teeny tiny rocks.

[–] UNWILLING_PARTICIPANT@sh.itjust.works 10 points 1 year ago (2 children)

And now we've got microstone pollution everywhere 😔 such a shame

[–] Alexstarfire@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

New description for sand has been unlocked.

[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 year ago (2 children)

microstone pollution

A.k.a. sand? It's terrible stuff. It's coarse and irritating, and it gets everywhere...

[–] walden@sub.wetshaving.social 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The ocean is full of it and our beaches are awash with the stuff.

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Probably not crossing the blood-brain barrier or placenta, I'll give it that. But yes it can get itchy

[–] lostarc@programming.dev 19 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I have this exact same chess set made out of stone. My father brought it back to the U.S. after visiting Guatemala where He and my Mother adopted my sister.

[–] intensely_human@lemm.ee 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Did he find it in an old temple in the jungle?

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[–] Asidonhopo@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago

Windom Earle has been here

[–] dutchkimble@lemy.lol 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It's remains of an ancient fort, for ants

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[–] MyDogLovesMe@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I guess I just miss my friend…

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