Unusual Grave of a Hipster With His Fancy Beard Comb in an Ancient Impact Crater Found, Stuns Archaeologists

Ancient burials over the years have provided researchers with a lot of meaningful insights. Certain burials in Germany discovered in 2021 also follow the same trend and gave experts a lot of eye-opening details about the individuals in them, stated Live Science. The burials were in Bavaria, inside an ancient impact crater called the Ries Crater.

Researchers spotted two burials in total at the site. One of them held a man, while the other contained a woman. Based on the way these graves were arranged, experts think that both individuals belonged to the elite class of society. 

The man's burial, along with his social class, also seemed to reflect his personal choices. Archaeologists found grooming items such as a pair of scissors and an intricately carved ivory comb in the tomb. This indicated to them that the man prioritized his appearance and took care of it. Researchers believe he used these tools to style his hair as well as his beard. As per examinations, the buried man was 40 to 50 years old at the time of his death

The grave was determined to be 1,500 years old by experts, according to All That's Interesting. Several items were spotted in the burial, but the most noteworthy seemed to be the carved ivory comb. Though combs have been found in many other medieval graves, they have mostly been of lower quality. This one, though, was made of ivory, which was very rare back then.

During the time of discovery, the comb was broken, and a team of experts later restored it. In the restored version, experts figured out that there was an illustration on the artifact. This illustration featured leaping gazelles, which made it stand further apart from other typical combs of the time period. Most of the comb researchers have found from the period either did not have any illustration, or if they sported it, then it was usually a design related to Christian beliefs.

Johann Friedrich Tolksdorf, an archaeologist with the Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation (BLfD), believes the comb is the first of its kind in terms of illustration that has been found from the sixth century. “That doesn’t just make this find an outstanding archaeological one but also an important art historical source,” he added. Researchers think that the unique finds showcase his distinguished personality. Along with the comb and a pair of scissors, the team also spotted a horse, an axe, and a battle sword in the grave, all of which were considered high-end items at that time. They also shed light on the man's possible profession as a warrior. 

The other burial also contained stunning items like jewelry, food scraps, and a red ceramic bowl, according to Live Science. As per experts, the ceramic bowl likely came from northern Africa. Experts think that, much like the ivory comb, the bowl must have also been a luxury item, reflecting the buried woman's social class. The bowl was deemed to be in excellent condition by experts, who also spotted some markings on its rim. These markings could be ancient Germanic alphabets and depict the name of the bowl's owner, as per researchers.