Archaeologists at the Magna fort in northern England have unearthed a remarkably intact leather sandal measuring 32\u202fcm\u2014evidence that a supersized soldier once patrolled Rome\u2019s frontier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A freshly uncovered leather sandal from the 2,000\u2011year\u2011old Roman fort of\u202fMagna, just south of Hadrian\u2019s Wall, is causing a stir among researchers. The shoe is so large\u2014comparable to a modern U.S. men\u2019s size\u202f15\u2014that experts are picturing a hulking legionary marching Britain\u2019s northern edge. Found in water\u2011logged, oxygen\u2011free mud, the footwear emerged alongside grooming tools, pottery and other camp gear, giving historians an unusually vivid snapshot of daily life on Rome\u2019s distant border.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The discovery site, a UNESCO\u2011protected outpost near present\u2011day Carvoran, once guarded the empire against tribes north of the Wall. Because Magna\u2019s subsoil stays wet and air\u2011tight, leather survives where it would normally rot. \u201cWe almost never see shoes this complete,\u201d one field supervisor explained. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That completeness allowed technicians to confirm the extraordinary length and speculate that its owner may have stood close to 6\u202fft\u202f4\u202fin\u2014impressive even by 21st\u2011century standards. After all, how many size\u201115s do you see walking down Main Street?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Roman soldiers did more than drill and defend. The team cataloged an intriguing mix of possessions that paint a humanizing picture:<\/p>\n\n\n\n