[Bonetools] Beading on comb teeth

Thu Oct 22 12:27:12 CEST 2009

I'll add my support to Sonia' s email.  I think it's quite dangerous to
suggest generalised rates of striation/beading development without taking
into account potential differences in function, and the particular physical
properties of the material, and it's a real problem in the absence of good
experimental work in this field.  I did instigate some work in this area,
but sadly I don't think it was completed.  It's certainly an area of much
interest and interpretative potential.

Steve

From: bonetools-bounces at listserv.niif.hu
[mailto:bonetools-bounces at listserv.niif.hu] On Behalf Of S O'Connor
Sent: 22 October 2009 10:16
To: 'Mailing list for archaeologists of the research group for the study of
object and waste of bone, antler. ivory and horn.'
Subject: Re: [Bonetools] Beading on comb teeth

Dear All,

I must add that all these materials, will probably wear at different rates.
Also the detailed form of the wear will probably vary between these
materials, as the pattern of this should reflect  a combination of the
function of the comb, the material of the comb and the structure of that
material. 

Horn is formed from layers (visible in Alice's photo) of finely corrugated
sheets of mineral stiffened keratin protein. Working of the surface of the
comb exposes these layers at the sides and edges of the teeth. If these
layers wear at different rates (perhaps due to differences in mineralisation
or organisation of the protein matrix) this will produce slight grooves in
the surfaces of the comb teeth were the more readily worn layers are
exposed.  Once these grooves are formed the hair will catch in them,
increasing the wear at these points.  As the grooves get more pronounced
more fibres will get funnelled into them as the comb is pulled thought the
hair, increasing the wear still further at these points (even into more
resistant layers of the horn)  eventually causing the 'beading'.   

Bone and antler are more heavily mineralised than horn, their organic
component is collagen rather than keratin, and their structures are entirely
different to horn. In addition, the physical properties and structure of
bone compact tissue are different to those of antler.  So although the
mechanism of wear (abrasion by hair/grease/dirt combination) is the same,
the 'necking' or 'beading' produced should be different in detail in these
different materials.  Has anyone observed this or done any experimental work
in this area?

Sonia

Dr Sonia O'Connor FSA FIIC ACR                   

Archaeological Sciences

Division of AGES, University of Bradford

Bradford, West Yorkshire,  BD7 1DP

UK.

tel 01274 23 6498 (office) 5210 (lab)

fax 01274 23 5190

From: bonetools-bounces at listserv.niif.hu
[mailto:bonetools-bounces at listserv.niif.hu] On Behalf Of Alice Choyke
Sent: 21 October 2009 21:53
To: tonya.largy at verizon.net; Mailing list for archaeologists of the research
group for the study of object and waste of bone, antler. ivory and horn.
Subject: Re: [Bonetools] Beading on comb teeth

For example - this is a horn comb from the romanian village of Szek which
was in use by a family daily for around 40 years.

Alice

On Wed, Oct 21, 2009 at 6:59 PM, Tonya Largy <tonya.largy at verizon.net>
wrote:

Could someone send a photo of a comb with "beading" on the teeth?  This is a
new concept to me.

Thank you,

Tonya Largy

Alice Choyke wrote:

One thingI can say that the notching or beading on bone/antler/horn/ivory
combs seems to start seriously developing after ten years. I have an example
of  daily use by a single individual (I will send you my comb article) with
long hair who used the comb (bone) primarily to clean her hair of grit after
a day in the fields. Her family had another comb (this one of horn) which
was used for similar purposes by everyone in the family for about 20 years
and then by the mother alone for another 20 before being put away. That one
has very pronounced 'beading' on it. I think the lesson to draw is that
specialists have seriously underestimated the length of time such objects
were used in the past. If I forget to send my article remind me.
 Best,
Alice

On Wed, Oct 21, 2009 at 12:57 PM, Anne Brundle <Anne.brundle at orkney.gov.uk
<mailto:Anne.brundle at orkney.gov.uk>> wrote:

   Does anyone on the list know of any studies of how quickly the
   teeth of bone or antler toilet combs may become beaded? And might
   the way hair was treated make a difference to the extent of wear?
   Sorry if this is a perennial question, I only just joined!

   Thanks

   Anne

   Anne Brundle

   Curator of Archaeology

   The Orkney Museum

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