What is this thing? @lemmy.world outer_spec @lemmy.blahaj.zone 9 mo. ago

Saw these weird statue-like things in a parking lot

65 comments

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
- Amazing. 4 minute answer for something very specific. Truly incredible.
  
  Honestly, given how small lemmy is comparatively, this precision and time frame is awesome. I’m glad I’m here!
  
  Damn, I thought they were dalek's
  
  Sign of Lemmy gaining traction.
  
  I had it immediately as well, just clicked to see if my answer was needed. I still have the set in a box somewhere.
  
  Yeah, this new AI is getting better and better!
  
  It's not that specific. I had the same set in granite. It's a super common set.
- Beat me to it, I had/have a similar set my parents got me on a work trip back in the 90s
  
  I assumed they were chess pieces. Don't have this set, never seen it before, but glad my instincts were right.
- Now the question remains… what are they doing in a parking lot. And only some of them.
  
  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
  
  Chess 2.0 won't need them. OP missed it's inventor by mere minutes.
- Same. I think I got it on a spring break in Mexico. I vaguely remember quite a few people having them.
- Someone with anger issues just have lost their game
- 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.
  
  We've worked out ancient gaming pieces, and sometimes been able to figure out rules for long dead games.
  
  Something something "fertility ritual", most likely.
- I also have the exact same set. Black and white.
- Yep, it was/is a popular style of chess set pieces in Central America/Mexico ostensibly mostly for tourists.
  
  Had a marble/onyx set that likewise, my folks got in Mexico before I was born. My grandma cast a replacement pawn out of plastic when one broke so we always had this super lightweight and off color pawn.
Thought they were chess pieces and was pleasantly surprised to see someone confirmed it
- I have this chess set.
  
  I had it as a kid. Mexican souvenir set of onyx.
- I was thinking ancient dalic chess peices
- Yea. That was my first reaction too.
They are chess pieces, and this image pains me. I have this set and am missing the pawn in the center of the picture.
- OP, we need some GPS coordinates over here.
- I'd get some soapstone and carve one, they look pretty rudimentary. Even a bumblefuck like me could manage it.
- Ask op to collect them and send it to you :)
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.
- holy hell
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.
- 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
  
  Microstone is everywhere. Soon most of the planet’s beaches will be covered with teeny tiny rocks.
  
  And now we've got microstone pollution everywhere 😔 such a shame
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.
- Did he find it in an old temple in the jungle?
  
  Quite possibly, he’s a man of mystery
Windom Earle has been here
It's remains of an ancient fort, for ants
- Isn't there a rule here about no dumbass joke answers? There should be.
I guess I just miss my friend…
- How can you be so obtuse?!
Permanently Deleted
Thanks for the answers! I went back to the parking lot this morning and brought them home.

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