Árbók Hins íslenzka fornleifafélags - 2019, Qupperneq 55

ÁRBÓK FORNLEIFAFÉLAGSINS54
century), make up the second sub-group of period II. The third sub-group is what
is referred to in Norway as D-combs (12th -15th century). These are double-sided
composite antler/bone combs with copper alloy rivets. A total of 33 combs or
comb fragments have been recovered in Iceland. Period III, Post-Medieval (15th-
18th century), has three sub-categories. The largest group are double sided wood
combs made of one piece, 37 combs or comb fragments recovered in Iceland. The
earlier types (15th-16th/17th century) have more square end pieces, whereas the
later combs often have ornamental ends (ca. 17th-mid 18th century). There are four
examples of double-sided bone or horn combs, made of one piece (16th-mid 18th
century). The final subgroup are single sided combs made of one piece of bone or
wood (17th‒18th century).
In the last few decades, the increased accessibility of large assemblages with
reliable phasing in Iceland has expanded the research possibilities of artefactual
material. When dealing with extensive finds assemblages where the dating is wide
and the bulk of the finds are not datable, the presence of culturally diagnostic
artefacts, such as combs, is extremely valuable. In this study the main emphasis
was on the timeline, how and when the combs appear in the Icelandic context (see
page 45). It demonstrates that the Icelandic comb corpus is largely similar to the
neighbouring countries, with a few differences which can, in some instances, be
linked to the marginality of Iceland. Examples of this include that the combs from
the earliest periods in Iceland almost invariably have iron rivets, bone or antler
combs seem to disappear earlier in Iceland, and wooden combs seem to appear
later than in the comparative material. As all combs are imports into Iceland, they
ref lect how material culture appears in marginal setting in the North Atlantic.
The project was funded by the The Archaeological Research Fund
(Fornminjasjóður).