Rare 13th c. hair styling tool found at iconic Scottish castle

"A rare gravoir, a medieval hairstyling tool, has been discovered at Eilean Donan castle at Dornie, in the western Highlands of Scotland. It is one of only three examples ever found in the UK, and the first of them to be found in Scotland. The tool dates to the 13th century and is made of red deer antler. It a single piece: an elaborately carved handle depicting a hooded figure in a draped robe holding a book and a blunt tapering point."

"Dr Blackwell, senior curator of medieval archaeology and history at [National Museums Scotland], said the gravoir would likely have been part of a set that had also included a mirror and a comb. She said: The gravoir would have been used to part hair neatly and help to make elaborate hairstyles they are incredibly rare objects. They originated from France where the fashion for creating elaborate hairstyles seems to have spread through northern Europe around the 13th Century. French gravoirs were typically made of ivory."

"The original castle was built in the 13th century on the tiny island of Eilean Donan at the meeting point of three sea lochs. It was an important defensive fortification of the local Gaelic lords against the Vikings who controlled most of the area at that time. It reached its largest extent in the 14th century. It became a stronghold of Clan Mackenzie, perhaps as early as the middle of the 14th century, and the castle was the setting for many a clan feud clash."

Archaeologists found a rare gravoir, a 13th-century hairstyling tool made from red deer antler, at Eilean Donan Castle in the western Highlands. The piece is one of only three known in the UK and the first discovered in Scotland. The tool is a single carved item showing a hooded figure holding a book with a blunt tapering point and likely belonged to a set with a mirror and comb. Gravoirs originated in France and were usually ivory; this example was made locally from antler. Eilean Donan was built in the 13th century, became a Mackenzie stronghold, and endured 18th-century Jacobite conflict and bombardment.

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