These toothbrushes were recovered in 1966 from excavations at historic Fort Hays in Ellis County by Kansas Historical Society archeologists. The toothbrushes have holes drilled in the heads for inserting the stiff bristles (often hog bristles). Toothbrushes were made of bone (as these are), wood or ivory. Fort Hays was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 and is a State Historic Site.