Darts sport began as training in the
martial arts, (well, the martial art of archery). Darts began in Medieval
England. Historians surmise, because they don't know for certain, that those
teaching archery shortened some arrows and had their students throw them at the
bottom of an empty wine barrel.
The fact that the bottom of an empty wine
barrel was used is a clue to how the game developed into a pastime. It is
thought that the soldiers took their shortened arrows with them to the local
drinking establishment to both exhibit their skill and have fun at the same
time. When the bottoms of wine barrels proved to be inconvenient or in short
supply, some inventive dart thrower brought in a cross-section of a moderate
sized tree.
The "board" provided rings, and
when it dried out, the cracks provided further segmentation. This cracked and
dried board began to evolve into what we think of as the current dart board.
A game as fun as darts could not be hidden
from the upper classes, and they soon put their own stamp on the game, the oft-married
Henry VIII was reputed to enjoy the game immensely. So much so, that
he was given a beautifully ornate set by Anne Boleyn.