I have spent 15 years doing a detailed, interdisciplinary study of a particular form of Viking-Age object: the hair comb. These objects were made by specialist craftworkers, and are one of the most common finds on archaeological excavations in Viking towns, but have rarely been discussed in detail. I use them to answer questions about migration and trade in Viking Europe.

 

In recent years I have been exploring new scientific ways of looking at these objects. A method we call Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS) allows us to identify the raw material used in making these objects. Usually bone or antler, if we can distinguish between red deer and reindeer antler, we can tell which combs were made in the British Isles and continental Europe, and which came from the Scandinavian peninsula. This has the potential to revolutionise our understanding of trade and travel in the period, but we are only just beginning to scratch the surface. A new project, funded by the European Union, will push this research in new directions.