Britain’s oldest comb found on building site in Wales

BRITAIN’S oldest comb has been found — suggesting Bronze Age folk were keen on keeping themselves well groomed.

The wooden tool has eight parallel teeth and is thought to date back more than 3,000 years.

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And its discovery has reopened the debate among experts over how much people from those times kept up their appearance.

Mark Collard, of the Red River Archaeology Group, said: “It’s wonderful to think someone perhaps sitting around a fire combing their hair.”

But he also speculated that it could have had a more practical use, adding: “It might have been used to get lice out of hair.”

David Gilbert, from Rubicon Heritage Services, suggested it could force a change in how Bronze Age people are shown in TV and films.

He said: “Attention to detail and pride of appearance is missing from so many depictions of prehistoric people.”

The ancient comb was found in a burial site near Barry, South Wales.

Other items unearthed include a gold hair-ring and a silver brooch — which experts claim indicate its owner had been of high military ranking and “of some wealth”.

All the items found have been declared treasure by the coroner for South Wales Central.

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