COULD BROKEN BONE COMBS HAVE HAD NEW LIVES?
COULD BROKEN BONE COMBS HAVE HAD NEW LIVES?

Summary/Abstract: Fine comb teeth that often broke were the weakest part of bone combs. There were two possibilities in the subsequent life of such a comb – it was either thrown away or repaired. If repaired the broken part could be replaced or the shape of the artefact modified. The chosen version might have depended on the skills of the repairer. In both cases, the biography of the comb would continue within the same function and meaning sphere as before breaking. Sometimes it was not possible to repair the comb in the way that it could be used for combing again. Artefacts do not have biographies without people. Is it possible to find out who tried to give a new life to a broken artefact and why?

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