Casgliadau Arlein

Comb fragment with straight ends: one rivet is preserved in position; even number of teeth on either side. From nearby in the same level came part of an undecorated rib of plano-convex section which is probably from the same comb. this piece is important in any discussion of the method of manufacture of the combs. The right hand side is an edge of the first strip. The emplacement of the ribs shows as a raised zone along the centre of either face, suggesting that the strips from which the teeth were cut were tapered out to the edge, probably by rubbing downafter the ribs had been fixed. If this is the full extent of the rib then it stops unusually short of the end of the comb, leaving a large number of teeth unsupported.