07-07-2025
Archaeologists Find Huge, Well-Preserved Roman-Era Shoe
At the ancient Roman fort of Magna, archaeologists have found a large, immaculately preserved Roman-era shoe, according to the Magna Rooman Fort Project.'
During ongoing excavations at the site located in Northumberland, England, near Hadrian's Wall, researchers came across a Roman-era leather shoe measuring 12.6 inches, which is a modern men's size 13–14. It's one of the largest shoes to be recorded so far in the Vindolanda Trust, which compiles all Roman footwear found to date.
"The sheer size of the shoe and guesses about who could have worn it dominated the conversation," said Rachel Frame, a senior archaeologist with the Magna Project "Could this one be the largest in the Vindolanda Trust collection? We certainly look forward to finding out!'
The shoe is actually one of several found during the excavation, all of which were remarkably well-preserved thanks to the oxygen-poor conditions which slowed the leather's decomposition. While the large shoe had only one sole layer, other pieces of footwear recovered contained several sole layers, allowing researchers to chart the evolution of ancient Roman footwear. The heel of the large shoe remained almost completely intact, allowing an unprecedented look at the craftsmanship.
"Multiple layers of leather were used to form the sole, held together with thongs, stitching, and hobnails,' Frame said. 'These also reinforced the outer surface for walking and are found on many styles of shoe."Adding a bit more mystery to the discovery is the fact that the largest shoe was found in an 'ankle-breaker' trench, which was designed to fell oncoming enemies. Scientists will conduct further research to determine how the soldier lost his shoe, whether in a violent incident or a willful abandonment.
A volunteer archaeologist identified as Jo, who assisted in the excavation of two shoes, was overcome with the magnitude of the discoveries. "It's always exciting to find anything that hasn't been touched for 2,000 years, but a shoe is such a personal item. It really puts you in touch with the people who used to live at the fort."
Archaeologists Find Huge, Well-Preserved Roman-Era Shoe first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 21, 2025
