Combing the Data: Re-evaluating ‘Weaving’ Combs in the Textile Production Sequence during the British Iron Age

Abstract

Bulleid and Gray cemented the association of long-handled combs from Iron Age contexts with weaving in the early twentieth century. Since then, the long-handled comb has been generally included as part of the weaving chaîne opératoire. Early attempts were made to assess use-wear; however, it was not until the 1970s and 1980s that wear patterns were critically examined. Building on a century of research, Tina Tuohy’s doctoral project further examined wear patterns and offered an alternative proposal, citing use-wear as evidence. In archaeological research, combs are frequently associated with other known textile production tools, which has embedded their place in the prehistoric textile toolkit for Britain. Although this notion is generally agreed, their utility within the textile production sequence remains questionable. In illustrations, combs are usually depicted with the warp-weighted loom, despite Tuohy’s proposition to the contrary. Analyzing the history of long-handled comb research revealed the necessity for re-evaluation This chapter presents preliminary data on a recording rubric and methodology for assessing utilitarian comb function from the archaeological evidence from Danebury hillfort (Hampshire, UK).