Archaeologists in the UK are investigating a surprising find of unusually large Roman shoes, discovered at a site in northern England. The shoes, measuring about 30 centimeters (11.8 inches) in length, are equivalent to a European size 49 or a US size 15. These ancient footwear pieces, thought to be around 2,000 years old, were unearthed in recent months at the Magna Roman Fort in Northumberland, part of the Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site.
The excavation team from the Vindolanda Charity Trust, which has been working on the site since 1970, made the discovery in a defensive ditch, a common area the Romans used for waste disposal. While large shoes are rare in the Vindolanda collection, around a quarter of the shoes found at Magna are of this unusually large size.
The discovery has raised intriguing questions for the team. Senior archaeologist Rachel Frame explained that this find is “really unusual,” and the team is now focused on understanding why so many large shoes have turned up at this particular location. They are investigating which Roman regiments might have been stationed at Magna and what could explain the higher number of large shoes compared to other sites.
The first large shoe was found on May 21, and since then, additional pairs have been uncovered. Frame noted that the preservation of these ancient items is due to the unique soil conditions at the site, which provide low oxygen levels that allow organic materials like leather and wood to survive for centuries.
The team is also exploring the broader context of Roman history, recognizing that the Roman Empire was vast and diverse. Frame emphasized that the Empire’s reach extended far beyond Italy, and the presence of people from different backgrounds and cultures at the site is a key factor in understanding these finds.
