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Roman wooden comb

Contributed by The Hunterian

This Roman wooden comb was found at Bar Hill Roman Fort, Strathclyde, Scotland and was picked by Christina Gilfedder, second year student at the University of Glasgow (Single Honours Archaeology). Christina writes - This magnificently preserved wooden comb was found at Bar Hill fort in 1936 within a refuse pit and it can be relatively dated between AD 140-180. Made from one piece of wood, the comb has two rows of teeth and is particularly small in size, suggesting that it is a nit comb for getting rid of head lice. The comb shows a rare insight into the personal health issues facing the members of the Roman army of occupation in Scotland and the care they took of their health and hygiene. Life in communal tents and buildings on the hostile Scottish frontier would have been made even less pleasant by the presence of nits and fleas, so keeping clean was very important.

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About this object

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Location

Bar Hill Roman Fort

Culture
Period

second century AD

Theme
Size
H:
5.5cm
W:
3.5cm
Colour
Material

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