Barrels have been a major part of transportation of goods dating back to the time of the Romans (3 AD). Barrels allowed goods such as wine, water, fruits, nails and gold coins to be traded and transported in much higher volumes. It is on these long journeys on water by boats and ships and by land on wagons and carts that the tops of the barrels were used to play what we call today as board games.

Barrel board games were a way for peasants and merchants, sailors, and warriors alike to come together as one and become equal on the playing field. It was on these long voyages and campsites that Barrel Games flourished and became an essential part of passing the time and entertainment. It was from these centuries of gathering around the round barrel tops that round tables eventually took over as the favorite meeting place.

These Barrel Games were very easy to create using the simple materials available at the time. Charcoals from the campsites were used to mark the board and in the case of Castile 1230, waxes from the candles were used to mark the dots on the Barrel top. Some of the Barrel Games varied from simple casting dice to the more advanced and complicated games like Chess and Castile 1230. As for the playing pieces a variety of objects were used depending on the game being played. Metal coins were used the majority of the time, although simple pieces carved from wood or wax were also widely used. Stones and small pieces of armor or shields were also claimed to have been used in certain Barrel Games. For example, it is believed that two swords and the colored sash of a Caballero were used as the visual divider or what is now the “Fog of War” in Castile 1230.

Since the tops of the barrels were made of wood and since the barrel top was usually smashed to unload the goods, there is virtually very little archeological evidence of their past existence. Some game pieces in newly found shipwrecks and old manuscripts are the only remaining evidence of these once very popular, fascinating but yet mysterious games.