IAA Number: 2014-1681
| Object's Name: Fragment Comb Engraved Period: Early Islamic Material: Bone Site: Ramla, esh-Sheikh Rihan Wide: 4.2 cm Description: A bi-directional comb made of bone, with one side having thick teeth
and the other side with thin dense teeth. The intermediate part is
trapeziod in shape with the thin teeth along its polygonal sides. The
middle solid part is decorated with two rows of large patterns of
circles with central dots. The upper line in proximity to the thin
teeth, is decorated with one such pattern and the lower line bears
three such circles. Typologically this type of comb is known since
the Early Roman period, however its decoration can point to the Early
Islamic period or even the Fatimid period during the 11th century
when minor arts, such as wood, ivory and metal carried this type of
circle -in circle decoration.
Bibliography: Vassilios Tzaferis and Michal Peleg 1989. Small Finds. In: Tzaferis, V. Excavations at Capernaum Vol.I 1978-1982. Indiana, 131-138, Fig. 72: 56. Eitan Ayalon and Chagit Sorek 1999. Bare Bones. Ancient Artifacts from Animal Bones. Tel-Aviv, 40, Figs. 47-48.
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