Leather shoes were found during excavations at an archaeological site in the Asturias region of northern Spain
Archaeologists were surprised by an unusual find during excavations at a Roman settlement in northern Spain. At the bottom of a well, immersed in more than three meters of mud, researchers found a leather sandal, well preserved and rich in details, estimated to be around 2 thousand years old.
The shoes, which probably belonged to someone who was cleaning the well and lost them during the work, the researchers explain, were found in the excavations of the settlement of Lucus Asturum, in the area now known as Lugo de Llanera, in Asturias. region. . The results of the excavations were published last September.
According to Esperanza Martín Hernández, chief archaeologist of the excavation, the artifact surprised researchers with its richness of detail and excellent state of conservation. The sandal, made of dark brown leather, features decorations in the shape of circles, bows and ovals.
Esperanza explains that the mud helped preserve the shoes, which are an artifact rarely found in archaeological ruins of the Roman Empire. “It’s really rare to find circumstances to preserve organic material in such good condition.”
“In this case it is a well for the water consumption of a private home, and the reason for its excellent conservation is due to the anaerobic state of the deposit. All the organic materials have remained intact for 2 thousand years thanks to the lack of oxygen” , said the archaeologist to the portal Science live.
In addition to the sandal, ceramic vases, jewellery, a metal ring, beads, a necklace and a bronze vase were found. The researcher says the artifacts help understand what the lifestyle was like in the early Roman Empire.
According to Esperanza, the findings demonstrate that the inhabitants of the house in which they were found were people of high social class and with high purchasing power.
Source: Terra
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