PHOTOS: World’s oldest leather shoe found in Armenia
The world’s oldest leather shoe was excavated from a cave in Armenia. The 5,600-year-old lace-up was found filled with grass, which researches said may have been used to keep the wearer’s feet warm. (Boris Gasparian / Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography in Armenia)
The shoes preservation is attributed to the cave’s perennially cool temperature and low humidity and a concrete-like layer of sheep dung that sealed in everything and prevented fungi from destroying the materials. (Dr. Alexi Smith / University of Connecticut)
The cave, marked with blue plastic, also contained a winemaking apparatus complete with grapes and three human heads preserved in jars. (Boris Gasparian / Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography in Armenia)
Pinhasi takes photos inside the cave, which was used primarily for storage and, perhaps, ritualistic purposes. (Dr. Alexi Smith / University of Connecticut)
The shoe is shaped to fit the wearers right foot. It is 9.65 inches long, which corresponds to a U.S. women’s size 7. (Boris Gasparian / Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography in Armenia)
Researchers have so far excavated only about 2% of the cave, which is at least 150 feet deep. (Boris Gasparian / Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography in Armenia)
The research team believes the cave was abandoned after an earthquake, which caused the ceiling to collapse. (Boris Gasparian / Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography in Armenia)
The shoe is 1,000 years older than the Great Pyramid in Egypt and 400 years older than Stonehenge in the U.K. The grass also may have been used to keep the shoe’s shape for storage. (Boris Gasparian / Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography in Armenia)
