The book explores various aspects of a comb found in Stroszek, focusing on its archaeological context, techno-stylistic data, chronology, and provenance. It examines the comb's significance through analogies in object-iconography and delves into its ornamental features, particularly the fish motif, analyzing its cultural and functional meanings within a comparative iconographic framework. The text also investigates the role of combs in early medieval European societies, especially among the Scandinavians and Rus, by analyzing written sources to understand the cultural implications of hair grooming practices. Additionally, it discusses the comb's place within the settlement patterns, culture, and mentality of the Warta river basin society. Several annexes provide further insights, including the participation of local populations in trans-regional exchanges of deer antlers, the significance of large burial mounds and hall buildings among northern Germans, and the cultural perceptions of hair and facial hair. The book also addresses the magical properties attributed to deer antlers in early medieval barbaric societies, focusing on Scandinavian examples, and explores the symbolic, social, and practical implications of early medieval combs made from antlers, with case studies from burial sites in Sweden. The bibliography and summary provide additional context and references for further study.
