Archaeologists Find Some of The World’s Oldest Leather Shoes in Armenia

5,500 year old shoe from Armenia

A 5,500 year old leather shoe has been extracted from a cave in Armenia near the village of Areni in the Vayots Dzor province  by a team of Archaeologists who are very ecstatic with the find because it turned out to be much older than the foot ware found strapped on the feet of the Otzi Iceman a few years ago, which until now, was regarded as the oldest footwear of all times.

The shoe was most likely crafted out of a cow skin and about a size 7 ,which makes it rather difficult to tell whether it was worn by a man or a woman. It was found preserved by a thick layer of sheep excrement which scientist now believe, shielded the leather form the vagaries of nature and made it to endure the over 5 millienia of its life span. It had some grass inside it, most likely to keep it in shape.

The cave is now being considered a rich historical site where more finds are likely to emerge. Archaeologist had thought the shoe was probably 700 years old, but radiocarbon dating carried in Oxford and California laboratories shocked the scientists when it put the age of the shoe at about 5,500 years old, many hundred years older than the shoes of the iceman found a few years ago in Europe. Dr. Ron, the lead researcher confirmed that his team has been able to find many grave yards at the back yards of this Armenian cave and there are hopes that many more artifacts could still be found here.

10,000 years old sandals from Oregon USA

Even with this 5,500 year old leather shoe, the current record holder of the oldest ever foot ware still remains a 1938 pair of sandals made from sagebrush bark, found in a cave in Oregon in the United States of America. They are carbon dated at 10,000 years old!