The Viking World: A History in ObjectsMain MenuGallery viewA galleryTag Cloudtag cloud pageThemesA path of thematic categoriesAuthor IndexExplore the collection by authorWorks CitedReferencesAdam Bigelow3afa9c7ecebf516bba6609664b1b12f79c54bf77Caitlin Donahue61b7e986e7c71d400e5c803912ed83c0cf65252fCaroline Harvey1783f21a5882b5b4d3d0b6c174d058052a5ff7eaEdward Hershewee701ef220480b51ca728fc9c719bc094cf813655Martin Hoffmana1fd203afd9a84ee8db567e188cf6ed1d269386eTyler Hruby23493f763b312110686cfafc62578fd0ab5f3833Brittany N. Johnsonc1c1763339f8fa953e3c907c6bb8a3bad0c28b2cCarlos Lua Pineda0a28cc23b0aa00b4f24a9e205aeb57fbdb07ff01Moira McConnell710633400590ea38533ea3412c01fc5056288180Clara McCurdy9aec76477d0b55f9c685c47330d6786ec98182e1Elise McIlhaneyef48481634ff342c8b43c9d56f678b2d3562fb69Cameron Meikle669a5682bfbfd603130a26e25628f24eb07e6295Alexander Christopher Newkirk019c2f5b38c043507251d1789e2fdf47e61c3b7fBenja Reilly816c23aa0d444213fb2d1ef33555a15617e08228Oliver Statenc625ae8c3926f5e1a4268bc91d6a6f4cdb1e7fb6Liam Sullivanaa3a1dccb90c7fe4646b61c4af594abbb0c5574aRead Wilder31bf4715220144a665996f2e6cae80a1a8611eadAliza Yazdanicd49f227d88c72331226ddf574bf56c37308cd10Austin Masonf6137011c68eb792c6e14634815583b15e707dea
12017-05-21T22:49:17-07:00Bone Comb7Object pageplain2017-09-21T22:37:06-07:00The comb is quite an interesting source for historians and archaeologists. This comb helps to: serve a utilitarian purpose, which explains the hygienic practices of the Norse; offer material evidence of cultural exchanges between the Norse and other societies; and give artists and craftsmen a unique canvas to display their works.
Found in 2009, in an Eastern settlement of Greenland, this comb is made from a fragment of a reindeer’s antler.[1]It is a light brown color with small-darkened circles along the length of the comb. These darkened circles are in fact iron rivets that follow the curve of the comb. The comb is approximately 8 centimeters long. This object was most likely crafted during the Viking age; however, due to its location in Greenland, a territory colonized later, it is very likely the age of this item spans from approximately 985-1049. The comb was excavated in 1977 along with many other objects from Greenland.
This object would be used the same way as we use combs today. What is primarily interesting about this object is what it reveals about hygienic techniques of the Norse, as well as possible cultural interactions between the Norse and surrounding societies. As stated in “Vikings The North Atlantic Saga,” William Fitzhugh’s book, “lice were an ever-present nuisance, as the large number of discarded combs with broken encrusted teeth attest.”[2]Therefore, combs served a very hygienic and utilitarian purpose, in which hygiene was regarded highly. The high volume of discarded combs retrieved also shows a willingness of the Norse to devote them to remaining clean and lice-free. Objects found during this time help to provide evidence of cultural exchanges, and combs are no exception. The designs on this comb are purely Norse styles however, other items have been found that indicate cultural exchanges between the Norse and the Inuit. Similarly to other objects, combs presented an opportunity for artists to practice their art. Some of the combs that have been recovered have interesting designs and etchings.
Due to the mention of Inuit combs being found in Norse controlled areas in sources, such as in “Vikings The North Atlantic Saga,” these findings give us material support that there were in fact some cultural exchanges between the Norse and other societies. This helps us to reconsider the role of the Norse in their territories, as traders too.