Dice, mahjong precursor cards found in 1281 Mongol invasion shipwreck

Researchers have found objects believed to be dice and “koppai” playing cards in a shipwreck linked to the 1281 Mongol invasion of Japan. Matsuura’s education board announced the discovery on October 28. The wreck lies off Nagasaki Prefecture, southwestern Japan, and the cards are considered an early precursor to mahjong.