The earliest archaeological evidence of lyubo game in the Ancient China

The article is devoted to unique fi nd of stone play-tables for «liubo» that was one of the most popular strategic games of Ancient China. Many military commanders and even emperors as well were found of this game. Data on this game were quiet often found during excavations of the Han Dynasty’s tombs, but they were very rear among the materials from the burials of previous period, i. e. Zhanguo. Finds from the burial M 3 at Pingshan (Hebei Province) is supposed to be the earliest among those which are known up to the date. It’s interesting to note that these fi nds were made during excavations of Zhongshan State necropolis. The State was founded by «White Di» tribe that belonged to «Scythian World». It testifi es about high level of adaptability of their culture which in its turn also exerted back infl uence upon Zhou civilization. The results of this mutual infl uence one can see on the objects of art excavated from Pingshan burial ground. Some of them demonstrate the elements of Scythian Animal style.