File:Post Medieval, Complete domino (FindID 606283).jpg

English: A complete copper alloy domino tile, of probable Post Medieval dating (17th to 18th Centuries AD).

The domino is rectangular in plan, and rectangular / flat in cross section. The front has been separated into two halves, by a vertical incised / grooved line. One side has five conical pits and the other four (5-4). The back of the domino is plain and undecorated.

The domino measures 35.5 mm in length, 16.5 mm wide and 3.7 mm thick. It weighs 12.6 grams. The internal diameter of the circular pits or pips is 2.2 mm.

The domino is predominately a mid to dark green colour, with an even surface patina covering the majority of the surface. Abrason, caused by movement whilst within the plough soil, has resulted in a loss of some of the original surface detail.

The game of dominoes is believed to have been developed in China during the 12th Century AD, but became popular during 17th & 18th Centuries in Venice. However a set of domino type gaming pieces was found amongst the grave goods in King Tutankhamen's tomb, c. 1355 B.C. Various different origins of the name 'domino' have been suggested from the pieces resemblance to Venetian Carneval masks known as 'domini' which were white with black spots. Equally another origin is that they resembled French priests' winter hoods which were black on the outside and white on the inside.

An original set of dominoes represented the results from throwing two six sided dice. One half of the domino is set with the results of one die, and the other side is set with the results of the second die. The most frequently occuring sided set of dominos is that referred to as a 'double-six' and consists of 28 tiles. However larger sets known as 'double-nine' or 'double-twelve' are also known, each consist of 55 or 91 tiles respectfully.

This domino tile probably came from a 'double-six' or a 'double-nine' set as the pips or dots on one side are greater than six and there is space for nine pips on each side of the tile. Few domino tiles have been recovered from dated stratified contexts, but as the game only reached popularity from the 17th Century onwards, it is unlikely that the domino is of an earlier date.

Nine dominoes have been recorded to date on the PAS database, and come from either a 'double-six' or a 'double-nine' set. These dominoes have been recorded as: LIN-F6B8B7 (1-1); CORN-7F1D44 (2-4); LVPL-BCA2E2 (8-4); LVPL-CFC351 (7-6); LANCUM-0F9CD7 (7-7); LON-82AC47 (1-6); LON-1C36D3 (unknown). Three dominoes were recorded as SWYOR-D3ABC3 and consisted of a 6-2, 0-3 and 3-3.