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
Decorated Antler Comb
12017-05-28T15:13:52-07:00Brittany N. Johnsonc1c1763339f8fa953e3c907c6bb8a3bad0c28b2c164562comb made from antler with most of the teeth intactplain2017-05-28T15:16:22-07:00Åhlin, Christer. Antler Comb. Still Image, October 20, 2011. 269166. Swedish History Museum. http://mis.historiska.se/mis/sok/fid.asp?fid=269166&g=0.800-1100269166CC BY59.3356206597888,17.545529878328antlerSwedish History MuseumAdelsö, Uppland, SwedenViking AgeBrittany N. Johnsonc1c1763339f8fa953e3c907c6bb8a3bad0c28b2c
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12017-05-22T13:27:55-07:00Decorated Antler Comb23object pageplain2017-09-17T15:03:54-07:00This comb was found at Birka, a well-known and well-excavated site of an 8th - 10th century viking emporium, or trading settlement. The comb likely made its way into the ground through accidental loss or after discard when teeth or some other piece of the comb broke. Sections of tooth plate as well as a decorated bridge survived. Because we know the dates Birka was inhabited by viking peoples, we can be relatedly confident in dating the comb to those dates, and because we know from the wealth of material evidence left behind that Birka was a relatively large and busy viking settlement,[1] with a multitude of other objects left behind, we can be confident in ascribing the comb to a viking culture.
Hygiene was surprisingly important to Scandinavian peoples who came into regular contact with parasites from sheep as well as from other humans – an issue that would no doubt have been extremely evident in a more urbanized, highly trafficked location such as Birka. Like many other examples of viking hygiene tools, the comb is made of antler or bone, an organic material that would have been readily available and easy for viking-age craftsmen to carve.[2]
Perhaps surprisingly, the main function of combs like this was not to craft a beautiful aesthetically pleasing hairstyle, but to remove lice. The teeth on this comb are especially narrow for this purpose. Although we tend to think of hygiene today as a means of improving one’s outward appearance, hygiene and beauty for viking peoples was often more practical and concerned with controlling parasites or bodily functions.
The decoration carved on the bridge of the comb is created through thick lines in a relatively close knit, geometric based design. The pattern resembles a lattice more than an animal-motif based interlace or knotwork, which differs somewhat from the more established viking styles. On either side of the comb there are also visible cross motifs, which may be a feature of the design or indications of an early exposure to Christianity.
Finds like this are significant because they offer a glimpse into the daily life of viking age people in areas where our written sources are dark.