A recent discovery in Spain may have unearthed the oldest pair of shoes in Europe, with a new study revealing that the shoes found in a cave in Granada are much older than previously thought.
According to the study published in the journal Science Advances, a team of scientists from Universidad de Alcalá (UAH) and the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) found about 20 pairs of sandals that are at least 6,200 years old, and possibly even older. This makes them the oldest known footwear in Europe, surpassing the previously believed oldest pair found in Armenia in 2008 that dated back 5,500 years.
The shoes, which were discovered in the Cueva de los Murciélagos, Albuñol, near Granada, were measured to be around 20.5cm or just over 8 inches in length. They were among 76 objects that were carbon-dated by the scientists, who also found that other woven objects in the cave, such as baskets, were dated back 9,500 years.
Lead researcher Francisco Martínez Sevilla stated, “These are the earliest and widest-ranging assemblage of prehistoric footwear, both in the Iberian Peninsula and in Europe, unparalleled at other latitudes.” He added that the new findings provide valuable insight into the prehistoric societies of Southern Europe.
The objects found in the cave, which are made of wood, reed, and esparto grass, hail from the early and middle Holocene period, dating between 9,500 and 6,200 years ago. Martínez Sevilla also highlighted the technological complexity and quality of the basketry found in the cave, saying it challenges the common belief that prehistoric societies were simplistic before the arrival of agriculture.
The study’s co-author, María Herrero Otal, added, “The esparto grass objects from Cueva de los Murciélagos are the oldest and best-preserved set of plant fiber materials in Southern Europe so far known.” She also noted the technological diversity and treatment methods used by prehistoric communities in crafting the objects.
The cave, known as the “Cave of the Bats,” is located on the coast of Granada and has been well-preserved due to the low humidity levels in the area. It is one of the most significant prehistoric archaeological sites in the Iberian Peninsula, with the rare preservation of organic materials. The find also sheds light on the skills and capabilities of prehistoric communities, as well as their use of different materials for different purposes.
‘Prehistoric footwear’ dating back more than 6,000 years discovered in Spanish cave https://t.co/MiWotP1HRf pic.twitter.com/19RhFvzOqb
— New York Post (@nypost) October 9, 2023
While Britain’s oldest shoes date back 3,000 years, the oldest footwear in the world was found in Fort Rock, Oregon, in 1938. These shoes, made from sagebrush bark and other fibers, date back approximately 10,000 years and are housed at the Museum of Natural and Cultural History at the University of Oregon.
The Fort Rock Sandals were discovered under a layer of volcanic ash from the Mount Mazama eruption 7,700 years ago, providing important evidence of the early use of footwear by humans. The recent discovery in Spain adds to our understanding of prehistoric societies and may lead to further research in the area.
