Title

Shackle Loop

Accession Number

1986.008.1245

Creation Date

circa 1700

Description

Absent 90% of both rings.
Two U-shaped shackles fit over the ankles or wrists of the captives, too tightly to slip hands or feet through. Smaller loops at each shackle terminus slid over a long bolt. The bolt had a larger diameter head forged onto one end and a slot pierced into the other. The large head served as a stop to keep the loops from sliding over one end, and the same effect was achieved at the other by hammering an iron wedge tightly into the slot, locking the shackles, and thus the prisoners, to the bolt and to each other.