This antler comb with matching case, found in the city of York, a former viking stronghold in northern England, shows the importance of hygiene and the care that Nordic people put into rather ordinary objects.¹ The common stereotype of a ‘viking’ is an unkempt, unruly barbarian, but, as this comb suggests, they had a more refined culture.² This particular comb is relatively low-status, as indicated by the simple bone construction with iron rivets along with the simple crosshatched design on the case. However, many other, more high-status combs made with bronze or other metallic inlay have been found throughout the Nordic world, indicating a communal commitment to hygiene.³ This commitment to hygiene breaks down much of the written material about vikings, including a claim made by Ibn Fadlan, a 10th century diplomat from the Abbasid Caliphate, that the Norse were the “filthiest of all Allah’s creatures.”⁴ Through regular combing, Scandinavian people would’ve kept their hair neat and would’ve eliminated lice, making them far from “filthy.” Combing would also have made their hair more beautiful, further incentivizing hair care. Through this comb, many stereotypes and misconceptions of Nordic culture are broken down, showing the refined nature of their culture as opposed to the misunderstood, romanticized idea of a burly and dirty Northman. Furthermore, material like this comb provides alternative insight into Scandinavian life than the written sources, making it an invaluable look into the life of the Norse people.

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