Excavations at the ancient Riotinto mining complex in the Huelva province of southern Spain have brought to light 2,400-year-old sandal remains made of esparto grass dating to the Iron Age. A research team from the University of Granada examined eight sandal soles uncovered in the Nuevo Filon Norte 1 sector and dated the finds to the 4th century BC. Thought to have been worn by miners, these shoes are considered highly significant for what they reveal about harsh working conditions in antiquity and the use of locally available raw materials.
Traces of a Harsh Life in the Mines
According to the researchers, the survival of these organic materials in Riotinto’s acidic and humid mining environment is an exceptional case of preservation. Radiocarbon analyses show that the sandals provide evidence for an active Iron Age mining operation in the area and the presence of a corresponding local labor force. The durable properties of esparto grass suggest that ancient workers chose this material to protect their feet from the sharp rock surfaces inside the mine.
Esparto Craftsmanship in the Iberian Peninsula
The tradition of making hand-crafted objects from esparto grass in what is now Spain goes back much further. Earlier research in the country identified similar woven esparto sandals from a bat-inhabited cave as the oldest known footwear in Europe [1], with a possible age of around 6,200 years [3]. This herbaceous plant, widely used for millennia across the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa [2], once again highlights the skill of ancient communities in everyday life and craft production. The newly discovered examples at Riotinto document the practical application of this long-standing craft tradition within the context of Iron Age mining.
Sources and further reading
- [1] Ancient sandals unearthed in Spain may be the oldest footwear ever ...
- [2] Oldest European sandals discovered in Spain - Facebook
- [3] 6200-Year-Old Sandals Found in Spanish Cave are Europe's Oldest ...
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