- Collection type
- Object
- Description
- Antler comb
- Long description
- Antler weaving tool/comb. 5 broken teeth and 2 intact. The surface is polished from use and there are a number of scratches present on the main body of the comb. Two lighter areas where possible labels may have been attached in the past. [CG [Excav. PR] 03/07/2013]
- Geographical reference
- England Dorset Weymouth and Portland Portland
- Person
- Maker Unknown Maker
- Field collector James A.S. Medhurst
- PRM source Augustus Henry Lane Fox Pitt Rivers founding collection
- Date
- Date collected
- By 1879 July 2
- Acquisition information
- Donated: 1884
- Materials and processes
- Material Animal Antler, Material Animal Bone, Process Carved, Process Polished
- Dimensions
- Length: max 104 mm, Width: max 30 mm, Thick: max 12 mm, Weight 30 g
- Object numbers
- Accession number: 1884.46.19 PR no.: 7/ 9680
- Research and responses
This object was among the 5 combs mentioned by Pitt-Rivers in his 1881 paper on Mount Caburn: "...In my collection are several bone combs of the same kind; one from Lancing in Sussex, found by Mr. Medhurst, has nine teeth; another, from Lancing, has eight teeth and a cross on the handle; a third, from Lancing, has six very short teeth, not more than a quarter of an inch in length, and pointed so as to resemble rather a succession of points and scallops than a comb. One also in my collection, from Portland, near Weymouth, found by Mr. Medhurst, has seven teeth; another, from Jordan Hill, near Weymouth, has eight teeth ; these latter were associated with Roman remains." Pitt-Rivers 1881: 431 [Dan Hicks 08/07/2013]
This object was probably among those purchased by Pitt-Rivers at a Sotheby auction on 2 July 1879, but is not listed individually in the catalogue. [Dan Hicks 22/07/2013]
Note that there are quite a lot of objects from Dorset obtained on 2.7.79, the same date that is used for the Medhurst collection (a collection from Jordan Hill). It is possible therefore that the items from Weymouth form part of the same collection or were obtained from the same source. [AP Leverhulme project on founding collection 1995-1998]
- Associated publications
- Pitt-Rivers, A.H.L.F. 1881. Excavations at Mount Caburn camp near Lewes, conducted in 1877 and 1878. Archaeologia 46: 423-495. Reference on page 431 [Dan Hicks 08/07/2013] Sotheby, Wilkinson and Hodge 1879. Catalogue of Antiquities and Works of Art including the collection of the Baron Heath...and the Musuem of Romano-British pottery and Roman personal ornaments formed by the late Mr James Medhurst of Worthing and Weymouth; comprising vessels in terra-cotta, bronze figures &c., cinerary urns, early Roman implements, beads, Roman coins...(1-2 July 1879). London: Dryden Press (Messrs Sotheby, Wilkinson and Hodge). Item 79 (page 5). I have placed a copy of this catalogue on file in the RDF for 1884.2.1 [Dan Hicks 08/07/2013]
Search terms: Textile, Tool, Weaving Accessory, Comb