My engaged archaeology project was a four person board game. The game has information on a few different aspects of archaeology including tools, investigation, methodology, and research design. The game features removable sites that each correspond each to different regions and different purposes for sites. The goal is for the player to gather enough information to correctly guess what happened at their site.
I had a hard time trying to manage the relative difficulty in the game. Sometimes I felt it appropriate to give the player some extra information, and other times I felt as if they needed to have a basic understanding of the world, and some common sense.
It was also difficult to balance the specificity of the game, including some research morals. Such as the selling of artefacts. I decided to give specific artefacts to each site. This may or may not have been the best way to do it, but I believe that it was the most true to life.
I hope that this game has the potential to engage the public to pursue more about actual archaeology.
I have included the rules of the game below to give more of a feel for my game.
Excavating Possibilities: A Game of Discovery
GOAL: The goal of Excavating Possibilities is to acquire the most information about your individual site, and ultimately figure out what why your site is of interest.. This can be accomplished through the excavation of sub-sites and the discovery of information about your personal site, and other neutral ones.
PLAYERS: 2 to 4 players; Ages 10+
GAMEPLAY: To begin, each player throws the 5 stones and the player with the highest number of painted sides up chooses which of the four site inserts he wants to have. Directly after picking out a site, the player should remove the excavation cards from the back of the cutout, and place them number side up in front of themselves. Then the next highest player has the same opportunity. This continues until all players have a site in front of them. The site that each player chose is only for him. When he passes the entrance to his site, he has to enter.
There is an envelope associated with each set of sites. In the envelope is the contents of the excavations, and an additional context card. Do not open anything until you land on the correct space.
Beginning with the player that chose his site last, each player will throw the stones and progress the number of spaces indicated by the number of paint up stones. Follow the instructions in [SPACES] depending on which space you land on.
SPACES:
Excavation: These spaces are the main goal in the game. When a player lands on one of these spaces, he must attempt to excavate the site. To attempt and excavation, a player must throw the stones and three or more must land paint side up. If he gets less than 3, the player has the option on the next turn to either remain in the space, and roll again, or move on and give up the excavation until they land on the spot again.
Research Library: When a player lands on these spaces, he must draw from the Research card pile.
Delays: When a player lands on these spaces he must draw a delay card, show it to the other players, and observe what it says.
CARDS:
Artefact: Artefact cards are received by excavating a site. The card will display the artefact found, and the card will display what information is needed to learn more about the artefact. Artefacts can be investigated at the beginning of a player’s turn when he has the required information or devices. Only one artefact may be investigated per turn.
Research: Research cards are one use only cards, and when drawn and placed face-up in front of the player. These cards will help the players learn more about their sites. When used, place the research card in a discard pile next to card pile. Reshuffle when out of cards.
Delay: These cards will delay one or more players. Difficulties will come in the form of the loss of turns, devices, information, or artefacts. When drawn, place the research card in a discard pile next to card pile. Reshuffle when out of cards.
COMPLETING THE GAME: The game is finished when any single player has correctly guessed the significance of site. A play may only guess about his site, when he has uncovered all of the artefacts/excavations that his site has. Any guesses may be checked for correctness on the answers cards. The “Possibilities” card will display all of the possible options for guessing what a site is. Every site has a correct AGE, PURPOSE, and LOCATION. Another player must check to see if the guess was correct. This can only be done once at the beginning of each turn. The player must be completely correct about his guess.
NOTE:
If a stone is ever in question, re-throw the individual stone.