[MR] History Blog: Medieval Ear Scoop

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble friends,

Today's History Blog reports on the discovery of an unusual medieval-era
silver ear scoop.

The scoop is more correctly known as a *curette*, but other than ENT
doctors and nurses few people would use that term. The British Museum
prefers the rather prosaic term "ear pick".

Medieval ear scoops are rather rare, unlike more common Roman-era examples
(the Romans seem to have been obsessed with ear wax). This particular scoop
is doubly rare because it is twisted clockwise, rather than anti-clockwise
as with other medieval examples. This scoop also shows traces of gilding,
suggesting this was a high-status possession.

The item was found by a metal detectorist in Norfolk, and because it is
over 300 years old and made from a precious metal, it has been declared
treasure.

See what medieval English glitterati used to clean their ears at
https://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/71721 .

For other examples of ear scoops, picks, curettes and other scary things
our ancestors stuck into their heads, see the British Portable Antiquities
Scheme collection at
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Ear_scoops_in_the_Portable_Antiquities_Scheme
.

Yours Aye,


Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆
Continuing a crusade to keep Merry Rose relevant and in business.