2000-year-old child’s leather shoe discovered in Austrian salt mine

In the depths of the Georgenberg Mine in Dürrnberg, Austria, archaeologists have discovered a perfectly preserved child’s leather shoe dating back over 2,000 years to the Iron Age. This remarkable find, roughly equivalent to a European size 30 or US size 12 for children today, has astounded researchers.

2000-year-old child’s leather shoe discovered in Austrian salt mineCredit: Deutsches Bergbau-Museum Bochum

Since 2001, the German Mining Museum Bochum and the Leibniz Research Museum for Georesources have been conducting extensive archaeological excavations in the Dürrnberg area, near the historic town of Hallein. This region is renowned for its ancient rock salt mining, which dates back to the Iron Age. Salt mining in the area played a crucial role in preserving food, allowing for trade, and shaping the region’s history.

One of the key factors contributing to the remarkable preservation of this child’s shoe is the high salt content in the mine, which prevents the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms, effectively preserving organic materials.

“The condition of the shoe found is outstanding,” remarked Prof. Dr. Thomas Stoellner, the head of the research department at the German Mining Museum Bochum. In the context of historical preservation, such finds are exceedingly rare.

2000-year-old child’s leather shoe discovered in Austrian salt mineOne of the salt mines in Dürrnberg. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

The shoe, constructed from leather and featuring remnants of lacing made from flax or linen, is believed to have been crafted around the 2nd century BC. While previous discoveries of leather shoes in the Dürrnberg mines were not uncommon, this child’s shoe is exceptional. It suggests that children were also present underground, working alongside adult miners during that era. Researchers estimate that mining crews during the Iron Age consisted of 30 to 60 workers at a time.

In proximity to the well-preserved child’s shoe, archaeologists uncovered other intriguing organic artifacts. These include a fragment of a wooden shovel with a blade-like shape and remnants of fur, along with lacing that may have belonged to a fur hood.

Dr. Stoellner emphasized the exceptional nature of this discovery, highlighting that organic materials typically decompose over time. However, artifacts like this child’s shoe, along with textile remains and even preserved excrement found in the mines, provide an invaluable and rare glimpse into the lives of Iron Age miners.

The research work on prehistoric salt production at Dürrnberg near Hallein, Austria, is part of a long-term research project. This endeavor is generously funded by Salinen Austria AG and Salinen Tourismus and conducted in cooperation with the Insтιтute for Archaeological Sciences at Ruhr University in Bochum.

Related Posts

Forgotten Indigenous child slaves of New France revealed in new studies

Forgotten Indigenous child slaves of New France revealed in new studies

Historical accounts between 1632 and 1760 show a chilling reality: 734 Indigenous children were enslaved in France’s North American colony. These children, torn from their families and…

Exceptionally preserved Roman wicker well with ladder unearthed in Norfolk

Exceptionally preserved Roman wicker well with ladder unearthed in Norfolk

Archaeologists at Oxford Archaeology have uncovered an astonishingly well-preserved Roman-era well in Norfolk, England, that offers rare insight into the lives of people in Roman Britain some…

Ancient Egyptian genome reveals 4,500-year-old genetic ties to Mesopotamia

Ancient Egyptian genome reveals 4,500-year-old genetic ties to Mesopotamia

For the first time, scientists have successfully sequenced the complete genome of an individual from ancient Egypt, offering unprecedented insights into early Egyptian ancestry and revealing a…

Neanderthals operated prehistoric “fat factory” 125,000 years ago on German lakeshore

Neanderthals operated prehistoric “fat factory” 125,000 years ago on German lakeshore

Neanderthals in central Germany 125,000 years ago employed an advanced method of food preparation, according to a recent study: systematically stripping fat from the bones of large…

Exceptionally large Roman shoes discovered at Magna fort near Hadrian’s Wall

Exceptionally large Roman shoes discovered at Magna fort near Hadrian’s Wall

Archaeologists excavating at Magna, or Carvoran, a Roman fort near Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland, England, have uncovered an amazing treasure trove of ancient leather shoes—many of them…

Hymn to Babylon discovered, revealing ancient Mesopotamian city life

Hymn to Babylon discovered, revealing ancient Mesopotamian city life

In a collaboration between Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU) and the University of Baghdad, an ancient Babylonian hymn dating back over two millennia has been rediscovered…