Author Identifies Oldest Purpose-made Sports Ball
A lump of battered wood from the archaeology museum in Hull has been identified as the oldest purpose-made sports ball in Britain.
A lump of battered wood from the archaeology museum in Hull has been identified as the oldest purpose-made sports ball in Britain.
When excavated in the 1980s from the site of a medieval priory it was assumed to be a broken wooden bowling ball. However, in researching a new book on historic sports Simon Inglis has identified it as a survivor from an indoor skittles-type game called half-bowl.
Mr Inglis said the game was outlawed by Edward IV in 1477 because it was distracting his archers from practice. It was still played in parts of the country until the 19th century.
When excavated in the 1980s from the site of a medieval priory it was assumed to be a broken wooden bowling ball. However, in researching a new book on historic sports Simon Inglis has identified it as a survivor from an indoor skittles-type game called half-bowl.
Mr Inglis said the game was outlawed by Edward IV in 1477 because it was distracting his archers from practice. It was still played in parts of the country until the 19th century.
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