Ancient Ivory Comb with First Known Alphabetic Sentence Makes Its U.S. Debut at Southern Adventist University

An ancient ivory comb, dating back to 1700 B.C., has arrived at Southern Adventist University for a limited time. But this isn’t just any artifact. This comb is one of the oldest pieces of alphabetic writing ever discovered—and its story is as fascinating as it is rare.

The ivory comb contains the oldest sentence ever written in alphabetic script. Since the alphabet was invented before this comb, its date is significant. This is important because 75% of the world’s population still uses alphabetic writing today, which underscores the lasting impact of this development, said Michael G. Hasel.

This ivory comb has journeyed far to be here. What makes it truly extraordinary, however, isn’t just its age—it’s the inscription carved into its surface, making it a rare treasure in the field of archaeology.

The inscription reads, “May this ivory (tusk) root out the lice of the hair and the beard.” What’s particularly interesting is that when Dr. Manshu analyzed the comb under a microscope, she found a tiny piece of the exoskeleton of a lice trapped between the teeth. This discovery is fascinating and confirms that the comb was indeed designed for its intended purpose, said Michael.