Monstrous Roman Footwear Unearthed at Magna Fort
Archaeologists Unearth Massive 2000-Year-Old Footwear Piece at English Roman Fort
Excavations at Magna, a Roman fort nestled near Hadrian's Wall in England, have proven fruitful once again. Not only have archaeologists discovered pottery, a comb, and tent pegs, but they've also uncovered a jaw-dropping find - a pair of Roman shoes! One shoe, in particular, has been causing quite a stir with its towering size.
According to the Roman Army Museum & Magna Fort "dig diary", archaeologists stumbled upon two distinct shoes in May. The first shoe, though in good condition, is missing its toes, making a precise size estimation a challenge. However, the second shoe, with its staggering length of 12.6 inches, is the true show-stopper - equivalent to a U.S. men's size 14!
Vindolanda TrustThe second shoe found at Magna Fort is a colossal size, leaving archaeologists and volunteers alike awestruck.
Archaeologists were more than thrilled by the find, as they commented, "Although in this case only one of several sole layers was intact, the sheer size of the shoe and guesses about who could have worn it dominated the conversation."
Interestingly, the huge Roman shoe wasn't the only reason the volunteers were ecstatic. "It's always exciting to find anything that hasn't been touched for 2,000 years, but a shoe is such a personal item; it really puts you in touch with the people who used to live at the fort," one volunteer enthusiastically explained.
Indeed, Magna Fort boasts a rich and enduring history that began some 2,000 years ago with the construction of Hadrian's Wall.
The Antiquated Tales of Magna Fort
Magna, also known as Carvoran, is a fort located near Hadrian's Wall, which was erected by Emperor Hadrian in 122 C.E. to safeguard the Roman Empire's northern border. Positioned at the junction of two major Roman roads, the Maiden Way and the Stanegate, ancient Romans at Magna would have enjoyed panoramic views of their surroundings.
Excavations have revealed that the Romans went to great lengths to fortify the site, as Archaeologists have been unearthing defensive ditches, banks, and ramparts outside the fort's northern wall. These defensive structures included "ankle breaker" ditches - narrow, deep trenches hidden with water, designed to trip enemy soldiers and cause them to fall and break their ankles.
However, much of what once thrived at Magda was lost to the cruel hands of time. "The site of the fort, and its civilian settlement, is now little more than a series of fields with pronounced humps and bumps, the remnants of the rampart behind the fort walls together with the remains of an exposed angle turret," as stated on the fort's website. Unfortunately, many artifacts were destroyed by farmers seeking to improve the land or roadbuilders looking for stones for the military way.
Despite the loss, there's still much to be uncovered beneath the soil, as the discovery of the gigantic Roman shoe demonstrates.
After gawking at the unexpectedly large Roman-era shoe found in England, delve deeper into the annals of history by learning all about the roguish Picts, the ancient Scottish people who often clashed with the Romans. Or, discover who constructed the enigmatic Stonehenge.
In light of the revelation of a towering Roman shoe at Magna Fort, one might also be intrigued by the historical clashes between the Romans and the roguish Picts, ancient Scottish people. Similarly, the mystery surrounding the construction of Stonehenge is another fascinating chapter in European leagues of sports, such as football, that have a lengthy history like the Roman leagues chronicled by archaeological finds at Magna Fort.
