Posted on 08/09/2018 12:59:36 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
Early Roman "horseshoes" unearthed during an excavation at a fort near Hadrian's Wall are to go on display.
Barbara Birley, curator at Vindolanda, near Hexham, in Northumberland, said it was "incredibly rare" to find a full set of four iron hipposandals.
She said the hoof protectors were so well preserved that their tread to stop horses slipping was clearly visible.
The haul was found by a volunteer - one of 250 who carry out digs at the fort every year.
Because the Romans were in Britain for between 400 and 500 years, Ms Birley said, teams could dig at the site for the next 150 years and still unearth Roman treasures.
"Basically, over the years, nine forts have been built on this site - every time new Roman arrivals came, they covered over the remains from the last fort with clay and turf to make solid foundations for their fort," Ms Birley explained.
"This means things were well preserved. One of the hipposandals has a hairline fracture so the set may have been thrown in the ditch because one was damaged."
The set of hipposandals, dating between 140AD and 180AD, will go on display at the nearby Roman Army Museum, in Greenhead, in February 2019 when the museum reopens.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
LOL.
I’m trying to figure which is the heel and toe of these contraptions.
Agreed. Whichever is the heel or toe, I can’t visualize the practical application. Horses got along just fine for thousands of years without shoes, and wild horses still do just fine today. Seems to me the Roman horses would have been better off without those things.
Those horseshoes are cool. Modern design and materials that don’t interfere with the horse’s action, but those ancient iron things look more like torture devices.
I did a little reading. Looks like no one is too sure how those boots were used. I would think the tall part would go in front and then some sort of cloth wrapping to tie it on. Can’t imagine galloping in those metal boots, but maybe walking? Some argue they were only used to treat certain hoof issues.
Modern designs can be pretty useful, but those look more likely to lame a horse than to help.
Oddly enough, I think we go all the way to this point without a “nailed it” joke. I’m pretty disappointed in all of us.
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