The Vindolanda Trust has directed digs that have revealed an astonishing trove of Roman shoe finds. These finds were unearthed at archaeological sites Vindolanda and Magna. All of these discoveries, built up over more than a decade of excavation, uncover a fascinating picture of Roman life in the heart of northern England. Though the shoes on display at Magna are mostly far above average. This unexpected finding has researchers reconsidering what these artifacts can tell us about the people who wore them.
One particularly eye-catching object in the collection is a giant shoe, 12.8 inches long. It sits comfortably on the inside on the current UK shoe size 12-14 range. The average shoe size found at Vindolanda measures 9.5 to 10.2 inches. This latest measurement is a better fit with contemporary UK size 7 to 8. The size difference is most apparent when we take a look at the shoe finds. At Magna, the percentage of large shoes is much higher than at Vindolanda.
Insights from the Excavation
The excavation sites have been fortunate for such outstanding preservation science, due in part to waterlogged conditions teeming with low-oxygen microbiological home soil. This remarkable environment has made it possible for organic materials, like leather, to survive for millennia. Archaeologists have had success in recovering complete shoes from the site. They discovered linear artifacts, including a letter that vividly tells the story of gift socks and underpants sent to soldiers at Vindolanda, probably to help them warm against the cold winter nights.
As Emma Frame, the senior archaeologist in charge of the Magna excavations, put it, “These are glorious finds.” “We have to assume it’s something to do with the people living here, having bigger feet, being potentially taller but we don’t know,” she stated. This interesting note raises some questions regarding the physical characteristics of individuals deployed to this remote corner of the Roman Empire. It’s particularly interesting as there has been little archaeological research on Roman cemeteries along Hadrian’s Wall.
Unpacking Historical Context
The possible reasons for the larger footwear in Magna would indicate many other changes or methods of adapting to the environment. Historical accounts show that Roman troops deployed to Britain’s north faced a completely different environment. They found a gradually worsening and less forgiving environment. The regular archers from Syria based at Magna had to contend with an extremely severe winter breed of climate. That kind of bitter cold was new and made things very difficult for them.
As Emma Frame notes, the oversized shoes could be seen as a symbolic effort to custom fit ourselves to such intolerable conditions. “These shoes could be some kind of snowshoes or winter boots meant to allow extra layers of padding or multiple pairs of socks to be worn,” she explained. This theory focuses on the functionality and practicality of footwear to the soldier. Such footwear not only allowed them to face the elements, but ensured they were left in fighting form.
The Challenge of Interpretation
Though we’ve made discoveries at both Vindolanda and Magna, piecing together these historical fragments is still a challenge. Archaeologists compare it to assembling a thousand-piece jigsaw puzzle without most of the critical pieces. Large shoes are exceptionally rare at Vindolanda, accounting for only 0.4% of determinable sizes. By comparison, Magna’s results indicate the opposite – a greater prevalence of the larger sizes.
Many in the archaeological community understand that larger, more thorough excavations are necessary. These studies will contribute to an emerging body of evidence shedding light on everyday life along Hadrian’s Wall under Roman rule. These challenges are compounded by the lack of study of Roman cemeteries in the region. This lack of research limits our understanding not only of the physical characteristics and culture of the men who lived and served there.