Egyptian Predynastic Lice Combs: Analysis of an Ancestral Tool

Abstract

Combs are instruments of great antiquity and varied morphology, but there is one format that has remained practically unchanged since its first appearance: the two-sided lice (or nit) comb. Its shape is a response to global health needs across time and cultures. Egyptian lice combs have been in use since the Predynastic Period, and although their utilitarian function encourages uniformity, their shape has varied slightly. This study will focus on lice combs from the Predynastic, reviewing aspects from the purely functional to the typological, their possible applications with gender and age, and their place amongst funerary equipment.