Jan Bartek – AncientPages.com – Archaeologists have uncovered a significant find in northern England: a massive leather shoe dating back nearly 2,000 years. This discovery was made at Magna, an ancient Roman fort located along Hadrian’s Wall.
Credit: Vindolanda Trust, ajxx. Image compilation by AncientPages.com
Magna, also referred to as Carvoran, is one of the Roman forts constructed around A.D. 122. This fort was established to delineate the northern boundary of the Roman Empire. Located approximately 7 miles (11 kilometers) west of Vindolanda, Magna is part of a network of forts in the region. Vindolanda is particularly famous for its well-preserved artifacts, including writing tablets, armor, and footwear, which offer valuable insights into Roman military and daily life.
The excavation team at the Vindolanda Trust project has found pottery and other smaller artifacts at the site. However, this particular shoe stood out due to its impressive size and historical significance.
The shoe measures 12.6 inches (32 centimeters) in length, equivalent to a modern US men’s size 14, UK size 13, or European size 49. It is believed that the wearer was exceptionally tall and possibly one of the tallest Roman warriors stationed in Britain.
A fully intact Roman shoe sole, measuring 32 centimeters, has been discovered at the Magna site and may represent the largest example of its kind ever found there. Credit: Magna Project
Rachel Frame, senior archaeologist for the dig project, noted that it elicited immediate astonishment from both volunteers and staff when it was discovered.
“The sheer size of the shoe and guesses about who could have worn it dominated the conversation. We were baffled and astounded by the sheer size of the shoe. Could this one be the largest in the Vindolanda Trust collection? We certainly look forward to finding out!” Frame wrote on the project’s diary page.
The site is also home to the Vindolanda Trust’s Roman Army Museum, which adds further context to these remarkable archaeological findings.
Credit: Magna Project
Excavations at Magna commenced in late March, focusing on the outer defenses, including ramparts, ditches, and banks. Among the discoveries were an oversized shoe and two additional leather shoes along with leather scraps.
Notably, two of these shoes, found on May 21, were in remarkably good condition. One shoe still had part of its heel and hobnails on the sole.
According to Frame, these findings provide valuable insights into Roman shoe-making techniques; soles were constructed from multiple layers of leather secured with stitching, leather thongs, and hobnails. The absence of the front section of one shoe hinders precise size estimation.
Experts suggest that this discovery not only underscores Roman craftsmanship but also possibly indicates the diversity among soldiers stationed at the empire’s frontier. The unusually large shoe prompts questions about the wearer’s identity and role.
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Currently, this large ancient Roman shoe stands out as one of the site’s most fascinating finds. A project volunteer expressed excitement over discovering such a personal item untouched for 2,000 years: “It’s always exciting to find anything that hasn’t been touched for 2,000 years but a shoe is such a personal itemt,” they remarked according to Frame—adding that getting wet and muddy during excavation is just an added perk.
Written by Jan Bartek – AncientPages.com Staff Writer