An “extremely well-preserved” child’s shoe from the Iron Age was found in Austria, during excavations at Dürrnberg, near the historic town of Hallein. The show was found by archaeologists from the German Mining Museum located in Bochum, a city in western Germany.
Hallein is an area that was mined for rock salt between 1200 B.C. and 600 B.C. It is believed that the salt found in the area likely aided in the preservation of the footwear. The rare shoe found is made entirely out of organic materials, which tend to decompose quickly over time.
According to a statement issued by the museum, the shoe is estimated to be more than 2,000 years old.
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“For decades now, our research activities on the Dürrnberg have repeatedly provided us with valuable finds in order to scientifically develop the earliest mining activities. The condition of the shoe that was found is outstanding,” says the head of research, Prof. Dr. Thomas Stoellner. “Organic materials usually decompose over time. Finds such as this children’s shoe, but also textile remains or excrement, such as those found on the Dürrnberg, offer an extremely rare insight into the life of the Iron Age miners.”
The shoe is made of leather and is equivalent to a 12.5-inch shoe today. The shape, as well as the lace-up closures, which were likely made of flax or linen, are still intact. The design of the shoe also offers clues as to when it was made, likely in the Second Century B.C.
In the vicinity of the well-kept find, archaeologists also found other organic materials, namely a fragment of a wooden shovel in the shape of a blade and the remains of fur with lacing that possibly belonged to a fur hood.
About the Author:
Amina Ayoud is an Assistant Digital Editor for Footwear News, where she writes stories about everything from celebrity style to breaking fashion and shoe releases. Ayoud cultivated a love of all things fashion early in life thanks to a deep love of fashion history and the luxury industry. In her free time, Ayoud is a self-proclaimed fashion nerd and thriftaholic.
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