The board was carved into the upper step of a cold-water pool within a hammam constructed during the Idrisid period. Researchers believe the design matches a strategy game known today as tāb or sīg, which is still played in parts of North Africa and the Middle East. If this interpretation is correct, the board represents the earliest known evidence of the game in North Africa.
Board games appear often in medieval Arabic literature, showing their place in daily life. Archaeological evidence for gaming in early Islamic societies has received far less attention. One reason is that most carved game boards are difficult to date. Many were etched onto buildings and pavements used for centuries, making their age uncertain.