## 2 Materials and Methods  
The analyzed objects are listed in Table 1. They were found during the archaeological excavation in different locations of the site: about one-third are sporadic finds or were recovered on the surface, whereas two-thirds belong to specific stratigraphic units. The archaeological information related to the exact location and stratigraphy of the objects is discussed in detail in Paltineri [10]. Summarizing the results: one washer-like piece and one sphere were recovered from the arable layer; two washer-like pieces, one sphere and five uninscribed dice are from an alluvial deposit (area B, US 2010). Four unincscribed dice were found in a combustion pit together with abundant ceramic herds, spindles and animal remains (area E, US 1531); one unincscribed dice and one sphere associated to dice with irregular numbers or signs (Figure 1d) were found in the two filling layers (US 1649 and US 1549) of the same combustion pit. In the same area (area E) other pieces were recovered: an unincscribed dice from a filling layer (US 2122) of a second pit containing ceramic fragments; and an unincscribed dice and a washer-like piece from a dumping (US 1505) possibly related to a production zone. The dumping material also yields spindles, large terracotta rings, numerous ceramic herds, fragments of grindstones, and furnace remains. A different area of the site (area F) yielded three washer-like pieces from an ancient layer of the settlement (US 1501); a fired surface probably used for food preparation (US 1514) and a fired clay area with unknown function (US 1571) [10]. Even if there are no systematic association patterns between the different types of objects, at least in one case unincsribed dice are in a secure connection with sphere and washer-like pieces. Based on the ceramic types associated with the finds the proposed date for the unincsribed dice is VI century BC; a washer-like piece and another unincsribed dice are dated to the end of the VI-beginning of the V century BC, and another washer-like piece is dated to the first half of the V century BC. However, the occurrence and distribution of the objects indicate that they were in use during the whole life span of the site, that is between the early VI century BC till the first half of the V century BC [10]. The small objects of interest are mostly composed of fired ceramics, except one dice made out of bone, and they can be described by three principal shapes: (1) cylindrical washer-like discs, (2) small spheres, and (3) cubic dice (Figure 1). All samples were initially weighed and dimensionally measured with a caliper. The results are reported in Table 1. In the case of irregular shapes, the minimum and maximum dimensions are listed. Two coeval dice reported from the nearby site of Castello di Annone [12] are also listed in Table 1, they were included because they bear similarities with the Villa del Foro materials and because one of the two dice has specific Etruscan letters. No analytical data are available for these samples, except for the stereomicroscopy investigation of the surfaces. They are made of ceramics as well. One of the two dice is unmarked, whereas the other bears Etruscan letters on two sides, and a variable number of small incised dots (9-12-17-22) randomly distributed on the faces (Figure 2), plus several linear marks on the edges. Based on macroscopic observations, the major differences between objects are (1) the overall size, (2) the presence or absence of finishing pigmentation on the surface, and (3) the presence or absence of incised decorations and/or inscriptions. All samples were further characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and Raman spectroscopy, in order to control the composition of the ceramics, the degree of firing, and the composition and application technique of the surface pigments. The XRPD measurements were made on minute quantities of material using a PANalytical X'Pert Pro goniometer operated in 0-0 Bragg-Brentano geometry and equipped with a Pixcel RTMS detector.