While that is a good basic source...it doesn't illustrate the many
variances in shoe sizes, types, etc.  I don't think the IMACS info
addresses the 'clips' (I don't know the terminology) at the toe or heel
either.   I have a small collection of 5 shoes (from a large dump
collection - U.S. Grant Jr's summer home refuse)...and only 2 are
alike....so I too could use a good, illustrative source.
But the IMACS info is a good place to start....for many types of
artifacts.

Altho...my boss wouldn't see any point in measuring them....apparently.
He is asking WHY I am measuring items...like bottles, etc. !!!! (since
he thinks it takes too much Time; and time is $ - which, for this
project [like SO many] there is a big lack of). 
Doesn't everyone measure the whole dimensions?  Tho, that wasn't an
adequate answer to give him.   He wants to know WHAT these measurements
will TELL him...for his report.  He sounds like the darn cheapskate
client who doesn't want to pay much to deal with the collection.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

His (boss's) rationale for my not going in to so much Detail (IOW,
spending Less time) in the catalog is..."any future researcher wont
trust Your [anyone elses] data - they will want to Look at the bottles
[whatever] themselves, take their own measurements, etc."  

Well...just how many of us have the luxury of actually going to Where
the collection is...and spending the time to look thru everything?
Wouldn't reviewing the original catalog of the items suffice (in most
cases)?  Unless...the catalog was inadequate, since the analyst didn't
include...measurements, or other important attributes.

Sorry...just had to vent.  If you reply to this tangent, please Change
the subject line...so it doesn't continue to be Horsehoes, and mislead
those who only want to find out about them.

Carol Serr
San Diego, Calif.

-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of G.
Alcock
Sent: Thursday, August 02, 2007 1:19 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Horseshoes

How about the guidance in the Intermountain Antiquities Com
Katherine:

How about the guidance in the Intermountain Antiquities Computer System
(IMACS) handbook?
Discussion, chronology (western US-biased, of course), and some
citations.

horseshoes specifically at: 
http://www.anthro.utah.edu/IMACs/476-Shoes.pdf
**Scroll down to "476.5 Animal shoes"

Illustration at:
http://www.anthro.utah.edu/IMACs/476-Horseshoes1.jpg

Info on hardcopy and a link to the rest of the .pdfs (including the
references) at:
http://www.anthro.utah.edu/labs/labs/archaeological-center.html

Gwyn Alcock
Riverside, California

----- Original Message ----
From: Katharine Watson <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Thursday, August 2, 2007 12:22:41 PM
Subject: Horseshoes

Hi all,
I'm about to analyse an assesmblage of horseshoes (dating from the late
nineteenth/early twentieth century).  This is an artefact type I haven't
dealt with before and was wondering what attributes need to be recorded.
I'm planning to start with some basic measurements, but don't know what
to record beyond that, or what the terms for the different parts of the
horseshoe are.  I've had a look around for some ideas but haven't found
anything particularly helpful.  Any advice would be much appreciated.
Cheers,
Katharine

Katharine Watson
Underground Overground Archaeology Ltd
28 Pratt Street
Christchurch
New Zealand

027 656 3985