Double-sided comb, group IIB, type III

The double-sided, undecorated comb, field number 6115/5/VI/S, was uncovered during archaeological excavations in the Podzamcze district of Szczecin. It was retrieved from trench VI, located in quarter 5, where it lay in layer XXXIVg1 within a structure marked as building 86. The comb is almost entirely preserved, with only a few teeth damaged. Made from deer antler, it belongs to the category of double-sided combs composed of three layers of plates. According to Eugeniusz Cnotliwy’s typology, it is classified as Group IIB, Type III, Variant 2. It has a shape resembling a rectangle, with slightly concave shorter sides. The comb was constructed from four antler plates arranged side by side and fastened to outer covers with rivets made from a copper alloy, each rivet positioned at the centre of a plate. After assembly, the teeth were cut using fine saws, one side featuring denser teeth, the other more widely spaced. This sequence of production is confirmed by visible incision marks on the covers that align with the gaps between the teeth. In the final stage, the surface was smoothed to remove traces of material processing. The quality of craftsmanship suggests that this small object was made by an experienced artisan equipped with specialised tools, including various types of saws, chisels, knives, and drills. Sławomir Słowiński