HISTORY OF HORSE-SHOEIXG. 



to the feet. Similar shoes have been found in Celtic monu- 

 ments by the French paLieontologist Foquet, the Swiss Troyon, 

 and others. Quiquerez discovered some in the Bernese Jura^ 

 buried in an earthen mound along with horses' bones, and, from 

 the evidence furnished by the superincumbent earth, referred 

 them to the sixth century B.C. 



All these shoes are characterised by six large roundish nail- 

 holes, opposite each of which the border of the shoe is bulged 

 outwards. There are shoes with and shoes without heels ; but 

 all are very small and weak (about ^^. inch thick, and ^ to ii 

 inch broad). They vary in weight from 3 to 3^ ounces, and 

 their shape is irregular and defective. The nail-heads are flat, and 

 rounded off towards the side. The shanks are short, four-sided, 

 tapering, and always pointed, showing that the nail was not 

 cut and clenched after driving, but simply turned over and 

 beaten flat on the horn. According to Veterinary-Surgeon 

 Mathieu, however, other shoes of a more modern stamp exist. 

 They have been found at Alesia, at Mont-Auxois, at Ancy le 

 Franc, and in the valleys of La Brenne and L'Armencon. In 

 1871, on the occasion of erecting new buildings at the Sevres- 

 porcelain factory, careful excavations were carried out, at the 

 suggestion of Mathieu, who hoped to find similar shoes, it 

 beincp know^n that the Gauls under the command of Camu- 

 logenus, who were defeated by Labienus, had fled towards 

 Meudon, through the Sevres valley. The search was successful, 

 shoes being found at a depth of about 9 feet. 



It is therefore clear that nailed-on shoes were in use before 



the Roman subjugation of Gaul, and 

 that several forms of shoe were made ; 

 while it seems probable the art was 

 known at more than one centre, and 

 that if the Gauls were not the actual 

 inventors of nailed-on shoes, thev at 

 least were the first to practise the art 

 of horse-shoeing. At that time the very 

 light, slender shoe was fastened with- 

 out the use of clips, the hoof was not 

 pared, and the nails were simply turned 

 over. It is believed that the Druids made and fastened on 

 the shoes for the Gallic warriors. 



Fig. 2.— Celtic shoe 

 (after Megnin). 



