The Roswell Man Posted May 10, 2005 #1 Share Posted May 10, 2005 (edited) A shoe thought to be at least 2,000 years old, and the oldest in the UK, has been dug up at an English quarry. The Iron Age relic was found in a hollowed tree trunk at Whiteball Quarry, near Wellington, Somerset. Archaeologists say the shoe is the equivalent of a size 10 and is so well preserved that stitch and lace holes are still visible in the leather. It has been sent for conservation to Wiltshire and should be displayed at Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter. A team from Exeter Archaeology, led by Stephen Reed, unearthed the shoe when they were excavating at Town Farm, Burlescombe. What we have now found is a Bronze Age 'industrial' site consisting of two mounds of burnt stone - dated to 1460 to 1290 BC - and two water-filled troughs," he said. "Close by were two timber-built wells, preserved by waterlogging and probably dating from the early part of the Iron Age." One of the wells was constructed over a spring using a hollowed tree trunk set into the ground. The tree trunk was removed from the site so that its contents could be examined under laboratory conditions. 'Oldest shoe' The "truly remarkable" discovery of the shoe was made when this was being undertaken by the Wiltshire Conservation Centre. Experts aim to determine what animal hide was used for the shoe "As far as we know, this is the oldest shoe ever found in the UK," Mr Reed said. "The shoe measures approximately 30cm, equivalent to a modern size nine or 10, perhaps suggesting its owner was male. "The reason for its presence in the well or spring is a mystery." It is hoped examination of the shoe will shed light on the method of its construction and identify the animal from which the leather was derived. Quarry owner Hanson is working with archaeologists from Exeter Archaeology, Devon County Council and English Heritage, as well as other specialists, to ensure that all the finds from the site are properly recorded and treated. It is hoped, following conservation, that the timbers and shoe will form the central feature of the proposed expansion of the archaeology galleries at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter. Sorce: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/4530905.stm Edited May 10, 2005 by The Roswell Man Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Nyx_ Posted May 10, 2005 #2 Share Posted May 10, 2005 That's a shoe?? I guess that's why they get paid the big bucks and I'm sitting here asking dumb questions. Awesome find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amalgamut Posted May 10, 2005 #3 Share Posted May 10, 2005 Hmm...I wonder if its a Nike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Nyx_ Posted May 10, 2005 #4 Share Posted May 10, 2005 Looks more Birkenstock-y to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Celumnaz Posted May 10, 2005 #5 Share Posted May 10, 2005 podobromhidrosis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Nyx_ Posted May 10, 2005 #6 Share Posted May 10, 2005 podobromhidrosis 614683[/snapback] say again? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marduk Posted May 10, 2005 #7 Share Posted May 10, 2005 It's not exactly in Oetze's league is it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henpeck69 Posted May 10, 2005 #8 Share Posted May 10, 2005 What a neat find. It is amazing how shoe styles have changed over all the years. Now everything is industrialized. I wonder what they would have thought of a nike if they were the ones to find a shoe. Probably have a coronary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amalgamut Posted May 10, 2005 #9 Share Posted May 10, 2005 It looks like a huge piece of beef jerky to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marduk Posted May 10, 2005 #10 Share Posted May 10, 2005 It looks like a huge piece of beef jerky to me. 614783[/snapback] Probably tastes something like that too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stixxman Posted May 10, 2005 #11 Share Posted May 10, 2005 podobromhidrosis 614683[/snapback] gazhundiet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elvis Posted May 10, 2005 #12 Share Posted May 10, 2005 podobromhidrosis 614683[/snapback] Very amusing, Celumnaz It is the medical term for... wait for it... smelly feet. gazhundiet 614973[/snapback] Obviously a poor attempt at the German word for healthy and the adapted English word for bless you "Gesundheit". Your smart-ass walking-talking dictionary, Elvis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nativechick1989 Posted May 10, 2005 #13 Share Posted May 10, 2005 It looks like a huge piece of beef jerky to me. 614783[/snapback] Probably tastes something like that too 614818[/snapback] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaftsbury Posted May 10, 2005 #14 Share Posted May 10, 2005 LOL ok this is a little off topic but who know's it may end up as a headline tomorrow Look at the vertical strip with the #5 on it....... follow it up from the bottom of the picture. Is that the face of Jesus on the shoe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morticia1197 Posted May 10, 2005 #15 Share Posted May 10, 2005 It looks like a huge piece of beef jerky to me. 614783[/snapback] Probably tastes something like that too 614818[/snapback] hhhmmmmm, nothing in the world like 2,000 yr aged jerky you can also wear on your feet. It looks like it has already been masticated by someone already LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Celumnaz Posted May 10, 2005 #16 Share Posted May 10, 2005 Masticating is one of my favorite past-times... Looking for Jesus... can't make it out on this monitor though, booooo... *sniffling into a tissue* Thank you Stixxman! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odinson Posted May 10, 2005 #17 Share Posted May 10, 2005 LOL ok this is a little off topic but who know's it may end up as a headline tomorrow Look at the vertical strip with the #5 on it....... follow it up from the bottom of the picture. Is that the face of Jesus on the shoe? 614986[/snapback] you see it too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elfstone810 Posted May 10, 2005 #18 Share Posted May 10, 2005 You know what it means that they found this one shoe in the spring? It means that 2,000 years ago somebody hopped home, probably cussing out the joker who tossed his shoe in the water. Seriously, awesome find! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odinson Posted May 10, 2005 #19 Share Posted May 10, 2005 You know what it means that they found this one shoe in the spring? It means that 2,000 years ago somebody hopped home, probably cussing out the joker who tossed his shoe in the water. Seriously, awesome find! 615053[/snapback] "Git off a mah lawn you darn kids!" There's a cantankerous old man wanting to chase kids of his lwan in every generation apparently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marduk Posted May 11, 2005 #20 Share Posted May 11, 2005 So jesus didn't die on the cross he came to england wearing customised shoes wahey lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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