IPHES-CERCA takes part in the 3rd edition of Valls Juga 2026 with prehistoric games and prehistoric shooting activities

This Saturday, March 21, IPHES-CERCA will participate in the third edition of Valls Juga – Game Festival of the Camp de Tarragona, a well-established event that will transform the Kursaal venue in Valls into a large play space with more than 130 activities for all audiences.

The festival, running from 10 a.m. to midnight, will bring together around twenty game designers and nearly thirty publishers, and will offer more than 3,000 square meters dedicated to games, including board games, role-playing games, skill-based activities, construction games and traditional games.

Prehistory-based games for science outreach

In this context, IPHES-CERCA will present several board games focused on prehistory, developed to bring scientific knowledge closer to the general public in a playful, participatory and educational way.

The activities will be led by IPHES-CERCA researchers and outreach staff Andrea Alías, Ethel Allué, Patricia Martín and Núria Ibañez, who will introduce these proposals and guide visitors through the gaming experience.

The games presented include:

Archbotanka Keliya

A proposal that invites participants to step into the role of an archaeobotanist and make visible what often goes unnoticed: the role of plants in prehistory. The game explores their uses and importance in prehistoric societies of the Mediterranean and southern islands such as Mallorca or Sri Lanka. Inspired by the traditional Sri Lankan game Pancha Keliya, it combines questions and sensory activities to connect nature, culture and the past.

Homo nomadicus

This game immerses players in the world of prehistoric migrations. Through a “choose your own adventure” mechanic, each decision affects the fate of the group, which must face encounters with other human groups, climate changes and multiple survival challenges.

The Time Machine

A game designed as a journey through prehistory using archaeological and fossil discoveries. Players must arrange cards in chronological order and, when turning them over, discover the real story behind each object. The game combines learning, surprise and challenge.

Monofuelpoly

An educational version inspired by Monopoly. Instead of streets, the board features prehistoric sites from around the world, and instead of money, the key resource is fuel, understood as essential energy for human survival in prehistory.

These games allow participants to explore key aspects of prehistoric life, such as subsistence strategies, mobility, resource use and human-environment relationships, turning scientific research into an accessible and enriching experience.

Prehistoric shooting workshop

IPHES-CERCA will also offer a prehistoric shooting workshop in the outdoor area («Fem plaça»), with sessions at 11:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. The activity requires prior registration, lasts approximately 45 minutes and has 20 places per session.

The workshop will explain the evolution of hunting strategies in prehistory, from spear throwing to spear-throwers and finally bow shooting. Participants will receive an introduction to each system, its origin and functioning, and will be able to try all three techniques.

The activity will also include archaeological replicas and reproductions to contextualize prehistoric weapons and hunting techniques.

A leading regional festival

Valls Juga has become a reference event in Catalonia in the field of games, thanks to its diverse programme and the involvement of local organisations. This year’s edition includes family game areas, prototype demonstrations, tournaments, role-playing sessions, free play spaces and specific initiatives such as the “purple tables”, dedicated to feminist-themed games or games featuring female protagonists.

There will also be a wide range of outdoor activities, including giant games, archery and soft combat, as well as food areas and initiatives linked to local commerce.

An event for all audiences

The festival is free and open to everyone, with a strong inclusive and educational vocation. The organisers highlight that it is an event “created from the territory, but with a universal vocation”, promoting play as a tool for interaction, learning and social cohesion.

IPHES-CERCA invites everyone to take part and discover how prehistoric research can become a playful, participatory and educational experience.

Consult the full programme here.