What the horse left behind: The archeological study of horseshoes

This thesis develops a method of horseshoe and horseshoe nail analyses that goes beyond basic artifact identification. It begins with an introduction to the basic horseshoe followed by a discussion of why horseshoes were used and the economic importance of their use. Various methods of horseshoe and horseshoe nail manufacture are outlined, along with the method of manufacture that can be recognized from shoes and nails recovered from archeological sites. The life history and use cycles of horseshoes and horseshoe nails are identified and related to the activities that took place at the site.;A history is compiled of the methods and technological advances in the manufacturing of machine-made horseshoes and horseshoe nails. Included are the major inventions and patents that influenced the history of horseshoes and horse nails. An appendix provides a brief description of over 120 manufacturers of horseshoes and horseshoe nails from the mid-1800s to the collapse of the market in the 1930s. Included in the description of manufacturers are the company name, place of manufacture, products made, and dates of operation.