The Viking Comb from Astrup Mose

A comb from the 10th century

The comb was found in Astrup Mose north-east of Odense and dates from the 10th century. It is made from several layers of bone or antler, originally held together by small metal rivets. The teeth were carefully sawn, and the handle is decorated with incised patterns.

Similar finds from Odense show that comb-making was a specialised craft. Comb makers worked with materials such as antler, and some of the raw materials may have come from far beyond Funen.

An object from everyday life

Combs were practical tools for grooming hair and beards, but the careful craftsmanship also suggests that appearance mattered in the Viking Age. Figures and other archaeological finds from the period show people with styled and well-kept hair.

The comb from Astrup Mose therefore offers a rare and tangible glimpse into an ordinary part of life more than 1,000 years ago – away from the familiar stories of kings, warriors and great fortresses.

Found during peat cutting

The comb was discovered in 1918 while peat was being cut in Astrup Mose. It was saved before ending up as fuel together with the peat.

We do not know how the comb came to be in the bog. But the find shows that people were living and moving through the area outside the early town during the Viking Age. Researchers have suggested that it may have been connected to a Viking Age settlement in the Astrup area.

Today, you can see the comb at TID – Museum for Odense.