This thesis focuses on the examination of the combs of the Valsgärde cremations burials, that span the Vendel Period and Viking Age. The analysis looks at seventeen, previously unpublished Valsgärde combs derived from a database of female cremation burials in Sweden. The Valsgärde combs are stylistically compared to combs from the Lovö parish, focusing on the designs and motifs of the connecting plates, end plates, and top edge of the combs. The study highlights the relationship between different stylistic elements of combs and burial chronology, suggesting that combs can serve as chronological markers in artefact dating. The aim is to identify common stylistic elements that can be seen in fragmented combs that may contribute to the creation of a typological system for artefact dating. Key findings indicate that combs, prevalent in burials across gender and social boundaries, have a chronological evolution of stylistic elements. This research uses the comparative analysis to expand a previously established typological system with the aim of laying the groundwork for future typological systems methods that can be used for artefact dating with combs.

Uppsatsen behandlar sjutton, tidigare opublicerade kammar från gravfältet Valsgärdes vendeltida och vikingatida kremeringsgravar. Genom att undersöka kammarnas olika stilistiska element i förhållande till gravarnas kronologi, visar studien att kammar kan fungera som kronologiska markörer vid artefaktdatering. Kammar är återkommande fynd i gravar oavsett genus och social status. Genom att identifiera vanliga stilistiska element, som även syns på fragmenterade kammar, konstrueras ett typologiskt system som gör det möjligt att datera gravar där andra daterande föremål saknas.