The design of the leather shoe, whose size roughly corresponds to EU 30 (US 12), suggests it was likely made in the second century BC, according to the German Archaeological Institute’s Geomagnetic Measurement for Geo-Research.
The shoe was excavated by archaeologists in the western village of Dürrnberg, where rock salt mining took place as early as the Iron Age, adding to the region’s historical significance. It said to be in remarkably good condition.
Investigations of the Geomagnetic Mine in Dürrnberg near Salzburg have led to the discovery of a well-preserved 2,000-year-old children’s shoe.
The German Mining Museum Bochum and the Leibniz Research Association for Geoarchaeology Research have been conducting archaeological research in the area since 2001.
Dürrnberg has been mined over thousands of years for the deposits of rock salt, with previous studies in the region uncovering artifacts and evidence of tribal settlements from the Early Iron Age.
Recent excavations in the Geomagnetic Mine have unearthed a 2,000-year-old children’s shoe. The shoe has been preserved due to the high salt levels in the mine, which promote the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms. “The condition of the shoe found is outstanding,” said research department head Prof. Dr. Thomas Stöllner.
The shoe is made of leather and has survived centuries of decay using a local mixture of wax or resin. Based on the typology of the shoe design, it was probably made during the 2nd century BC.
Leather shoes have been previously found in Dürrnberg; however, the children’s shoe indicates that children were present during mining activities throughout the years. Excavations also found a fragment of a wooden shovel and the remains of fur with a lace, which according to the researchers probably belonged to a fur hood.
The study of Iron Age salt mining at Dürrnberg is part of a long-term research project funded by Salinen Austria AG and Salinen Tourismus, and is carried out in collaboration with the Institute for Archaeological Sciences at the Ruhr University Bochum.
“Organic materials generally decompose over time. Finds like this children’s shoe, built also to textile remains or excellent like these found in Dürrnberg, offer an extremely rare insight into the life of Iron Age miners,” said Dr. Stöllner.