Archaeologists at the Roman fort of Magna in northern England unearthed a remarkably well-preserved leather shoe that sheds new light on what Roman soldiers wore nearly 2,000 years ago, according to Live Science. The 32-centimeter (12.6-inch) shoe, discovered during the excavation of a defensive trench, suggests that a Roman soldier from that period had exceptionally large feet.
The discovery of the giant shoe astonished archaeologists. One volunteer noted that it "immediately drew impressed gasps" from everyone on site. The excavation team was amazed by the size of the shoe, as it provides new insights into the physical characteristics of Roman soldiers and their footwear.
Fort Magna, also known as Carvoran, was built around 80 CE and once guarded the junction between two major Roman roads called the Maiden Way and the Stanegate. Located at the limit of Whin Sill in Northumberland, the fort was expanded after the construction of Hadrian's Wall around 122 CE to protect the northern frontier of the empire.
The shoe, along with other leather fragments, remained preserved due to anaerobic conditions in the waterlogged mud, which prevented decomposition for centuries. The preservation enabled archaeologists to gain new insights into Roman cobbling techniques. "This gives us a really good look at how Roman shoes were made," said Rachel Frame, a supervising archaeologist on the project. "Multiple layers of leather were used to form the sole, held together with thongs, stitching, and hobnails." Researchers added that the soles were reinforced on the outside for walking, and this design is found in several types of footwear.
Although the original owner has not been identified, specialists believe the unusually large shoe could belong to a soldier of notably large build, uncommon in the archaeological records of the time. Considering its size, experts speculate that the soldier may have measured approximately 1.95 meters in height, like American director and actor Tim Robbins.
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One of the shoes found was missing its toe area, making it difficult to determine its full size. The full length of the shoe was measured at 32 centimeters, which is equivalent to a UK men's size 12 to 14, 13 to 15 in the US, and approximately European sizes 48 to 50. In addition to the giant shoe, other shoes in partial condition and scattered leather remains were located, including two shoes in good condition discovered on May 21.
A volunteer for the Magna Project wrote in the excavation blog, "A shoe is such a personal item; it really puts you in touch with the people who used to live at the fort." The discovery has sparked hypotheses about the unusual size of the Roman soldier, as the soldier would have had trouble tracking down a pair of size 15 (US) military boots at the northern edge of the Empire.
The archaeological team plans to continue excavations within the fort, hoping to locate wooden structures that may provide more clues about the daily life of the soldiers who inhabited the area over two millennia ago. "This is really promising for our future excavations," said Frame in a YouTube video, as they plan to expand their dig inside the fort to look for timber buildings.
Inscriptions at Magna reveal that the fort once hosted a cohort of Syrian archers, Dalmatian infantry, and other Roman military units. A large settlement is thought to have existed at the junction of the two Roman roads in northern England, indicating that the region was not used solely for military purposes.
Other discoveries from this year's excavation include a fine-toothed wooden comb, pieces of pottery, and wooden tent pegs. These findings help to paint a picture of life on the Roman frontier 2,000 years ago. Archaeologists hope to find other archaeological treasures, such as structures from nearly 2,000 years ago, in addition to more clothing items discovered so far.
Now, the shoes and other remnants of the past will pass through the expert hands of a specialist in ancient leather. The specialist's mission is to unravel clues about the identity of the person who wore the surprisingly large-sized shoe and shed light on the daily life of those who inhabited and worked in Magna during the Roman era.
Unlike other remains found, this shoe had an almost complete structure, with multiple layers of leather, studs on the sole, and part of the heel still attached. Another shoe was found with its complete sole.
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