Years ago, I
looked around in the Ricote Valley for alquerque-12 drawings. The Ricote Valley has always been a chance
for me to relax, unwind and escape the stress of everyday life. The
pressures of commuting and family
obligations mean many of us live life in a constant hurry resorting to fast
food before collapsing in front of the
television in the evening. However, for my research I feel the need to escape
and get away from it all at times. The Ricote Valley has become a part of my life where I have the freedom to
slow down, get away from technology overload and take real pleasure from the
basics of life.
However, during
years I was not successful with my research in the Ricote Valley. This
situation that lasted several years changed suddenly when I met the
archaeologist Joaquín Salmeron, director of the Museum Siyasa at Cieza of the
province of Murcia in Spain. Cieza is located only 5 km from the Ricote Valley.
Joaquín Salmerón Juan and Govert Westerveld
Ruralmur Prize in 2014
With great
enthusiasm Mr. Salmeron showed my proudly the different Alquerque boards they
had found in the moorish settlement known as Siyasa of the XIII century. Among
them quickly found two Alquerque-12 drawings. That day I felt myself the
luckiest man of Spain because suddenly all my research efforts were rewarded
with the desired results.
Alquerque-12 on a plaster stone at Syasa (Cieza)
Photo: Courtesy
of © José Antonio Hellín Martínez
Alquerque-12, (partially) on a plaster stone at Syasa
(Cieza)
Photo: Courtesy of © José Antonio
Hellín Martínez
Alquerque-12 found on a stone in the old Musulman town Syasa Photo: Photo: Courtesy of © Juan Buitrago
The Alquerque-12
game is the precursor of the draughts or checker game that is called in Spanish
the "Juego de las Damas". I have already studied for many years the
history of the draughts game that I considered being a Spanish invention around
1495, precisely in the town of Valencia.
