Astonishing Discovery: Unveiling Europe's Oldest Footwear Unearthed in Spanish Cave!
Europe's oldest shoes, dating back 6,000 years, were unearthed in a Spanish cave, reveals a recent study in Science Advances This groundbreaking analysis establishes their remarkable historical significance
The journal Science Advances published a study this week revealing the discovery of the oldest shoes ever found in Europe. These 22 woven sandals, dating back 6,000 years, were identified through radiocarbon analysis conducted by researchers from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and Alcalá University in Spain.
The ancient footwear, along with Mesolithic baskets and other tools, was initially unearthed in 1857 from a cave located in southern Spain, which had been looted by miners. However, when these artifacts were dated in the 1970s, their age was estimated to be approximately 1,000 years younger than the latest analysis suggests.
According to the researchers, the extremely dry conditions within the cave served as an optimal environment for preserving perishable materials. This led to the remarkable preservation of a prehistoric burial site, which included partially mummified corpses, along with various items such as baskets, wooden tools, sandals, and other commodities.
Baskets were also found in the cave.
"These objects represent the most ancient and remarkably preserved collection of plant fiber materials found in southern Europe to date," stated María Herrero Otal, one of the authors of the study. She further emphasizes that they highlight the prehistoric communities' skilled craftsmanship in this domain.
Spanish archaeologist Manuel de Góngora y Martínez visited the cave in 1867, a decade after the looting. He collected the remaining artifacts, such as the sandals, and subsequently donated them to museums in Madrid and Granada. These artifacts have been extensively examined by researchers, revealing that the sandals were crafted from a combination of grasses, leather, lime, and ramie bast, a natural fiber.
Based on Góngora's descriptions, the study hypothesizes that the bodies were interred wearing the sandals. It was observed that certain sandals displayed evident signs of usage, whereas others seemed completely unworn. This indicates that certain individuals may have had attire specifically crafted for their burial.
Archaeologists unearth 2,000-year-old child's shoe with well-preserved laces.
In addition to the shoe, the team extensively examined various baskets and wooden artifacts found in the collection. According to the researchers, these items provide valuable insights into the intricate nature of European populations during the Early-Middle Holocene period. It is worth noting that the majority of our understanding about ancient societies stems from enduring artifacts, rather than perishable ones like baskets. The Holocene, which commenced approximately 11,700 years ago, represents the current geological epoch.
The researchers observed that both the baskets and sandals indicated a deep understanding of the local plant resources and a remarkable level of skill on the part of the makers. Francisco Martínez Sevilla, one of the authors of the study, mentioned that the exceptional quality and intricate craftsmanship of the basketry challenge our overly simplistic assumptions about pre-agricultural human communities in southern Europe.
The study revealed that the objects were deposited at the site during two distinct periods in history: the Early and Middle Holocene eras. Researchers noted that the initial phase corresponded to the hunter-gatherer populations of the Early Holocene, while the subsequent phase was connected to the farmers of the Middle Holocene.
