From the 1920 book "Kentucky Superstitions" by Daniel and Lucy Thomas: "One horseshoe under the door-step and one in the fire will keep hawks away from your chickens."
Interestingly, the authors note the same use and effect for "Indian rocks", by which I'm fairly certain they meant prehistoric projectile points. I know of at least three instances of chert bifaces being identified in hearths here in Kentucky, which seemed fairly odd to me until I found that reference.
I'm curious as to whether any of the recovered horseshoes were found near doors or hearths, which are considered the traditional entry points for malevolent spirits. If not, the primary factor in their use may simply have been for the iron in the shoe, rather than the idea of the shoe itself as the charm. As Chris noted, the iron would have been considered a protective ward, and I've seen iron knives stuck in the foundation wall of an early 19th century house here as well.
-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Bob Skiles
Sent: Thursday, April 09, 2015 11:56 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Horseshoes - Foundations
Chris,
I was wondering what was your take on the aspect of concealment of the horseshoes? It seems that Lawrence (see the quotation below) may have provided a clue for some of it; disapproval by the Church would likely have suppressed quite a bit of public display among Catholic populations ... but what about Protestants? Would ostracism for superstitious beliefs in the age-of-reason have been a strong and compelling deterrent/suppressant to public displays of belief in folk magic ...
strong enough to drive the horseshoes from public display, but not from continued widespread private/concealed use?
"About the year 1850 the Rev. Andrew A. Bonar, who was then assistant minister in Collace Parish, Perthshire, Scotland, found the custom of displaying horseshoes on the doors of farm buildings so prevalent that he thought it his duty to remonstrate against a practice savoring of paganism. But his efforts in this direction, though hardly crowned with success, were yet not wholly without avail, for his superstitious parishioners removed the guardian horse-shoes from the outsides of the doors, and nailed them up on the insides." Robert Means Lawrence, The Magic of the Horse Shoe, 1898.
Bob Skiles
On 4/7/2015 10:20 PM, M. Chris Manning wrote:
> This is most likely evidence of a widespread folk practice in which a
> horseshoe or other iron object, such as an edge tool, is secured to a
> building or integrated into the structure itself to bring good luck
> and/or protection to the house. Check out my recent article in the
> fall issue of Historical Archaeology. I specifically discuss horseshoes on pages 72-73.
>
> Manning, M. Chris. 2014. The Material Culture of Ritual Concealments
> in the United States. Historical Archaeology 48(3):52-83.
>
> I would be very interested in learning more about the details of this
> find and seeing some photos. Please message me off list.
>
> Chris
>
> M. Chris Manning, M.A., M.S.H.P.
> [log in to unmask]
> [log in to unmask]
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
> Ben Resnick
> Sent: Tuesday, April 7, 2015 1:56 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Horseshoes - Foundations
>
> We encountered several horseshoes buried partially beneath the corner
> of a dressed stone foundation at a 19th century domestic site located
> along the southern Virginia coastal plain. Additional horseshoes were
> also recovered along the foundation wall of an early 20th century
> addition. I would be interested to hear of any similar observations
> for these site types including information regarding the possible
> background of site occupants (ethnicity, etc.).
>
> Thanks,
>
> Ben
> [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>
> Ben Resnick, MA, RPA, MBA
> GAI Consultants, Inc.
> 385 East Waterfront Drive, Homestead, PA 15120-5005
> 412.476.2000 ext. 1200 | C 412.759.3156
>
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