Accession No
1889.15.1
Description
Carding or weaving comb carved from a bone or antler. Oval terminal constricting at base, leading to a flaring triangular section culminating in nine comb teeth of equal spacing and length; tips of teeth missing. Obverse is smoothed; reverse has pitted surface.
Place
Europe; British Isles; England; Cambridgeshire; Hauxton
Period
Iron Age
Source
Department
Arch
Reference Numbers
1889.15.1; MAA: Z 38634 A; AR 1889.27
Cultural Affliation
Material
Bone
Local Term
Measurements
37mm x 10mm x 108mm Weight 0.026kg
Events
Context (Display)
Z 38634 A-B were previously on display in the Archaeology Gallery, Clarke Hall (1984-2010) in an Iron Age case. Their object label read: 'Antler weaving comb and bone bodkin'.
Event Date
Author: maa
Description (Physical description)
Catalogue card 1889.15.1-6: 'Comb (?for carding) of bone; an iron ploughshare; 3 pieces of bronze; Stag's antler, cut and drilled'
Event Date 1889
Author: Katrina Dring
Context (Field collection)
Collected January 1889.
Event Date 1/1889
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)
Context (Auction / Sale)
1889.15.1-6 purchased for the museum in January 1889 for 2/8.
Event Date 1/1889
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)
Context (References)
Smedley, N. (1961). 'Iron Age Weaving Combs from Cambridgeshire and Suffolk'. Proceedings of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society, vol. LIV. pp. 47-49. fig. 1.1.
Event Date 1961
Author: Imogen Gunn
Description (Physical description)
One bone comb for carding.
Event Date 24/6/2014
Author: maa
Description (Physical description)
Triangular bone or antler comb surmounted by a flat disc. All nine prongs are extant.
Event Date 24/6/2014
Author: maa
Context (Amendments / updates)
The bone comb was originally accessioned into the collection as 1889.15, as part of a larger group of objects described in the Annual Report (AR 1889.27) as: 'A bone comb (?for carding), found with fragments of Saxon pottery, bronze, iron, &c. Hauxton, Jan. 1889. Purchased.' and in the Accessions Register as 'A comb (?for carding) bone; a ?plough-share, iron; 3 small pieces of bronze; a stag's antler, cut & drilled. B[ought] 2/8. Hauxton, Jan. 1889.' When the comb was reaccessioned as Z 38634, its period was given as Iron Age rather than Anglo-Saxon, however, it has been published as Iron Age (see bibliography) so that earlier identification appears to be incorrect.
Event Date 24/6/2014
Author: Imogen Gunn
Description (Physical description)
Carding or weaving comb carved from a bone or antler. Oval terminal constricting at base, leading to a flaring triangular section culminating in nine comb teeth of equal spacing and length; tips of teeth missing. Obverse is smoothed; reverse has pitted surface.
Event Date 19/5/2021
Author: Annie Tomkins
FM:267716
Images (Click to view full size):