Ancient Egyptian comb from Mahasna dated 4000 – 3500 BC

Large bone comb with long back and seven long teeth, of which five are preserved to their complete length and two are slightly chipped at one end. Top of comb flat with 2 small projections from it, which are the remains of the decorated top, which was the figure of a quadruped. Comb has pronounced curvature, being carved from the humerus of a cow, probably the anterior humerus.

Ancient Egyptian comb from Mahasna dated 4000 – 3500 BC

Object details

  • Reference: BOLMG:1909.76.5
  • Material: bone
  • Culture: Amratian Period, Naqada 1
  • Period: Predynastic Period
  • Dated: 4000 - 3500 BC
  • Object name: comb
  • Dimensions: Length: 268mm , Width (max.): 48mm , Depth (max.): 3mm , Depth (min.): 2mm , Length (teeth, min.): 145mm , Length (teeth, max.): 149mm
  • Published references: Thomas Discussions in Egyptology 9 1987 pp.55 - 62
  • Site: Mahasna