Lost Game Revealed: Ancient ‘Mankala’ Remains Uncovered in Pune Hills
Pune, 23rd May 2023: Remains of a 2,500-year-old game have been discovered in the hills near Pirangut in Mulshi taluka of Pune district in Maharashtra, sparking renewed interest in research on the subject.
Archaeologists have unearthed remnants of the ancient game ‘Mankala’ in the hillocks of the southern mountain range near Pirangut village. The ruins were discovered by Adv Maruti Gole and his colleagues.
During their routine trekking expedition, Patrao Gole and his younger brother Mangesh Gole stumbled upon these ruins. The ancient remains became visible after heavy rainfall cleared the area. The brothers promptly sent photos of the discovery to Maruti Gole, who sought confirmation from Saujwal Mali, an expert in the Mankala game.
Mankala is a traditional game that originated in Africa and was played in India 2,500 years ago. In ancient times, the game was etched on rocks for recreational purposes. It was commonly played in trade route areas and teahouses, often involving wagers with elephants and horses.
Remnants of this game have been found not only in Maharashtra, specifically from Naneghat to Sindhudurg, but also in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Maruti Gole revealed that the recent findings in Pirangut add to the list of locations where traces of this game have been uncovered.
In February 2022, 41 ancient games were discovered in the Marunji hill area of Pune district. Subsequently, 35 ancient games were found in Kapurol, 30 in Vaishnavdham, and 17 in Bhor taluka. Gole mentioned that efforts are underway to register these games.
Sports hold great significance in ancient cultures and traditions, underscoring the importance of preserving this historical game. The findings suggest a significant presence of foreign traders along Maharashtra’s trade routes. Researcher Saujwal Mali emphasized the need for the Archaeology Department to pay attention to these ancient artifacts.
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