Hipposandal

An iron hipposandal. The sole has an tear-shaped hole, the side-wings are short and distorted, and have loops which usually hold rings (only one ring in situ). Heel raised sharply very near end, with hook. Plate grooved beneath.

Hipposandals would have been used on the feet of animals pulling carts and wagons when they went onto hard gravelled roads. These were more likely to be such animals as oxen rather than horses. This would have protected the hooves from damage but the shoes could have been removed when the animal went back onto softer ground. They were given the technical name hipposandal (not their original name) by antiquarians because the Greek word for horse is ‘hippos’, hence’ hippopotamus’ is a river horse.

Type 4 (BM).