Ancient Footwear Unearthed in Spanish Cave

The oldest pair of shoes in Europe, dating back at least 6,200 years, have been discovered in a cave in Spain. The cave also contained woven objects dating back 9,500 years, providing evidence of the skill in Mesolithic hunter-gatherer societies in Southern Europe. The shoes, measuring around 8 inches, were made of wood, reed, and esparto grass. The findings from the Cueva de los Murciélagos cave are considered the earliest and widest-ranging assemblage of prehistoric footwear in Europe. The well-preserved objects were carbon-dated by scientists from the Universidad de Alcalá and the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.