Graffiti Games of Central Maharashtra: New Documentations, Revision and Theory

Abstract This paper presents the findings of an ongoing research initiative aimed at the systematic documentation and analysis of ancient etched game boards across Maharashtra with a particular focus on central regions of the state. Recent explorations within the Gautala Wildlife Sanctuary including the Buddhist rock-cut caves of Pitalkhora and the Chalukya-era Shri Hemadpanthi Mahadev Temple have revealed both isolated and multiple etched gaming boards including traditional mancala variants. Additional fieldwork at the rock-cut caves of Aurangabad and active temples near the Lonar Crater Lake has led to the discovery of previously undocumented graffiti games and a potentially unique variant of supposed mancala not observed elsewhere in India. These findings contribute to a growing dataset that suggests a historically rich and regionally concentrated gaming culture. By combining new discoveries with previously collected data the study explores spatial patterns cultural continuity and the possible decline of these games. Through comparison with historical sources and ongoing dialogue with subject experts this research aims to reconstruct the cultural memory associated with these artifacts and proposes new directions for understanding regional play traditions in India.