Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Razor's Edge: Constructing Male Identity In Bronze And Iron Age Northern Europe, Kaitlin Kincade

Theses and Dissertations

Personal hygiene paraphernalia has been largely overlooked in interpretations of prehistoric European societies. Razors in particular have only recently been examined as playing an important role in European prehistoric societies. Typically found in burials and hoards, razors have historically been associated with the "warrior elite" concept in European prehistory. As a counterpoint, this thesis will examine the role personal hygiene and body modification played in identity construction and the possible symbolic role of razors in the construction of male identity in the Bronze and Iron Ages in northern Europe. Direct evidence, such as razors themselves, preserved hair, and bog bodies, …