Archaeologists have discovered enormous leather shoes while excavating the base of a trench designed to “break the ankle” of enemies in Roman forts located in northern England.
These fort shoes and other leather artifacts, referred to as Magna, shed new light on the craftsmanship involved in shoe-making as well as the individuals who wore them nearly two millennia ago.
“Shoes are highly personal items. They truly connect us to the individuals who lived within the fort,” noted one of the Magna Project volunteers. Excavation Blog.
Following the construction of Hadrian’s Wall around AD 122, the Roman Empire expanded into a small British fortress. Magna, also referred to as Carborane, is part of a series of forts along the wall, situated approximately 7 miles (11 km) west of Vindolanda. It boasts artifacts such as written tablets, military medals, and leather footwear.
In late March, archaeologists began to excavate the defensive ditches, banks, and ramparts located just outside the northern wall of Magna. According to senior archaeologist at the Magna Project, Rachel Frame, the “ankle destroyer” was found at the bottom of a distinctive groove—a narrow trench where an enemy soldier could potentially lose his footing and break an ankle.
Within the ditch, archaeologists and volunteers uncovered three shoes and scraps of leather that had been remarkably preserved for centuries in an oxygen-free environment.
“This discovery holds great promise for our future excavations,” Frame stated in a YouTube video, as they aim to delve further inside the fort to locate a timber structure.
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The two shoes located on May 21st are in excellent condition. One shoe contains part of the heel, and hobnails can be found at the base of the sole.
“This provides us with valuable insights into Roman shoe construction,” Frame noted on the Excavation blog. “Multiple layers of leather were used to create the shape, held together by strings, stitches, and hobnails.” However, estimating the size remains difficult due to missing toe sections.
The second shoe, found at the foot of the ankle destroyer, was intact and “quickly made an impression,” Frame reported from the site. The shoe measures approximately 12.6 inches (32 cm) in length, comparable to a modern men’s size 14 or 13.
“Could this be the most significant find in the Vindolanda Trust Collection? We eagerly anticipate discovering more!” Frame expressed.
Current research is being conducted on the shoes and other remnants by leather specialists, offering a glimpse into the lives of those who inhabited Magna during Roman times.
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Source: www.livescience.com