Ancient Turkish oracle stone preserves 56 answers for knucklebone throws

Archaeologists studied an ancient oracle stone from Kibyra in southwestern Turkey, found in 2024 in a chapel wall.

The limestone monument dates to the second or third century and carries Greek inscriptions on all four sides.

People threw five small animal bones and matched the result to one of 56 answers carved on the stone.

The bones came from sheep, goats or calves, and their four possible landing values were 1, 3, 4 and 6.

The answers offered guidance on everyday choices, including travel, trade, illness and money; some advised waiting or avoiding a plan.

The monument was likely first set up near Kibyra’s agora, or public marketplace, and a wealthy donor also paid for a statue of Hermes, a god linked with travel, trade and divination.

Its complete set of numbered instructions survives, helping researchers understand how the system worked and how it related to similar oracles in other cities.

The stone was later reused in a chapel wall, and researchers say the find belongs to a wider regional tradition of seeking divine advice.