Prehistoric 'shoes' better than modern hiking boots

Submitted by Vicky on Friday, 20 June 2003 Page Views: 1567

Prehistoric 'shoes' made out of bearskin and hay are better for mountain walks than modern hiking boots, claims an expert. Shoe specialist Petr Hlavacek has been studying the shoes found on the feet of a prehistoric iceman whose mummified body was found in an Alpine glacier in 1991.

Mr Hlavacek, who reconstructed a pair of the shoes, said they kept the foot at an optimal temperature, allowed sweat to evaporate and dried quickly if they got wet. These practical qualities offer an interesting historical comparison with modern barefoot-style walking boots, which are designed to support natural foot movement while providing protection on outdoor terrain.

The footwear engineer's version went on display this week at the Leather Museum in Offenbach.

Christian Rathke, the museum chief, said the shoe was the "most interesting and best tested" reconstruction yet.

The discovery of the iceman, a Copper Age hunter who was killed on a mountain trek, has triggered a wave of new science, with studies of both his physical health and all the equipment he wore and carried.

Rathke said the shoes were far from waterproof, but if the iceman stepped in a puddle he would only be cold for a few seconds and the shoes would dry quickly as he walked.

"This shoe is optimal for places where it's damp and cold," he said. "It would not be suitable for the savannah or desert."

The sole was of thin bearskin, padded on the inside with hay as protection against the cold. Hlavacek's reconstruction is like a slipper, with no leather upper behind the heel, just a net.

Source: Ananova 20/06/03

Contributor Bio for Vicky: Ex Megalithic Portal Editor, Co-author of 'Rock Around the Peak - Megalithic Monuments of the Peak District' and... More

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