Exploring the Depths of History: Archaeologists Unearth Millennia-Old Espadrilles in Bat-Inhabited Cave, Rethinking Europe’s Ancient Footwear History

In a groundbreaking revelation that changes our understanding of ancient European attire, archaeologists have unearthed what is now considered the oldest known footwear in Europe. This extraordinary discovery took place in a bat cave located in the Granada province of Spain. This newly discovered treasure trove comprises around 20 sandals made from esparto grass, many of which appear to be designed for children.

A hammer made from olive wood and two sandals-Image Source: Al-Arabiya

Unique Features of the Discovery

The site, known as Cueva de los Murciélagos de Albuñol, was initially plundered by miners during the 19th century. However, the recent research, led by Francisco Martinez Sevilla, an archaeologist at the University of Alcalá, has revealed that these artifacts are significantly older than previously believed.

According to the study published in Science Advances, these espadrille-type shoes were created by farmers in the Late Stone Age, around 6,200 years ago—almost 2,000 years before the estimates made in earlier research.

Further Fascinating Findings

The cave also harbored baskets that appear to be the oldest in Europe, like everything else in the cave, were used for funerary purposes. In the words of José Antonio Lozano, a geologist and co-author of the study, the unique climatic and terrain conditions of the cave have contributed to the unprecedented preservation of these artifacts. Before this discovery, the oldest known prehistoric shoes were found in Armenia, dating back 5,500 years, and the 5,300-year-old leather shoes worn by Ötzi the Iceman discovered in the Alps.

This historical uncovering enriches our understanding of prehistoric Europe and, as Maria Herrero Otal, co-author and researcher at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, stated, only fragments of these ancient espadrilles remain. Yet, they provide a remarkable glimpse into the lives and deaths of our ancestors.

The findings, assembled by a team of about 20 scientists from various fields ranging from geology to history, solidify the significance of this site as one of the oldest and best-preserved collections of hunting and fruit-gathering baskets in Southern Europe. This extraordinary collection has thrown open new avenues for exploration, both sartorial and archaeological, in prehistoric Europe.