the first steps; When did humans start wearing shoes?

As one of the simplest and at the same time, the most important human inventions, shoes have played an essential role in the evolution of humans and their adaptation to the environment; But since when did humans think of covering their feet, it is still one of the fascinating and challenging questions for scientists and history researchers. As one of the most important means of movement and interaction with the surrounding world, human feet have always been at risk of natural damage such as sharp stones, cold and heat. Therefore, the need to protect them seems logical; But finding historical evidence for the first shoes is not an easy task.

The reason for this difficulty is due to the nature of the raw materials that were used in the production of the first shoes. Organic materials, such as animal skins, plant fibers, and leaves, decompose easily over time and are rarely in conditions suitable for long-term survival. However, archeological discoveries such as 10,400-year-old sandals found in Fort Rock Cave in Oregon, USA, and 5,500-year-old leather shoes in Armenia are clues to the early use of shoes in They are at the discretion of the researchers.

However, the question arises, is it possible that humans were wearing shoes much earlier than these mentioned times? Circumstantial evidence, such as fossilized footprints in South Africa believed to be 150,000 years old, supports the theory that shoes are much older than previously thought. In the meantime, researchers are still trying to uncover the secret of this important part of human history by using modern technologies and examining indirect evidence. In the continuation of this article, we will have a closer look at the available evidence about the origin of shoes and its evolution.

What you will read about the history of shoes in this article:

The oldest shoes in the world

Scientists have discovered many ancient shoes around the world; Including 5,500-year-old leather shoes in Armenia, 6,200-year-old grass sandals in Spain, and 8,300-year-old shoes in Missouri.

However, the question arises, when exactly did humans invent shoes? It is difficult to answer this question; Because the skin of animals, plant fibers and other materials used to make shoes are decomposed and destroyed over time. The oldest known shoes are over 10,000 years old; But fossilized footprints show that human ancestors may have been wearing shoes much earlier.

_{One of the oldest known shoes in the world, discovered in a cave in Armenia; Photo source: National Geographic; Photographer name: Gregory Areshian}

According to Thomas Connolly, director of archaeological research at the University of Oregon’s Museum of Natural and Cultural History, the oldest shoes that researchers have been able to date directly are a pair of 10,400-year-old sandals from Fort Rock Cave in the center. Oregon state have been discovered.

In 1938, a group of archaeologists excavated in Fort Rock cave and discovered dozens of sandals woven from sagebrush and other fibers. Mr. Connolly explains that similar shoes have been found in dozens of other locations in the Great North and West, the arid region of the United States between the Sierra Nevada and Rocky mountain ranges. He says:

Overall, these shoes are carefully constructed and have a smooth sole and cushioning for the foot.

_{Photo source: discovermagazine; Name of the photographer: unknown}

According to Connolly, scientists who have interviewed indigenous groups in the Oregon region, such as the Klamath and Northern Paiute people, also found that in historical times, woven shoes were commonly used for winter use; Especially for work around swamps and cold lakes, where fishing nets or bird hunting might be used, gathering or plants such as reeds to make mats and baskets.

Although these sandals had a porous structure, their fibers retained body heat and kept feet warm even in wet and humid conditions. “Connolly” also mentioned this point in his speech:

The ethnographer Samuel Barrett had heard from the “Clamths” that woven shoes were used in such a way that a person could walk through swamps with very cold water with relative comfort even on the coldest days of winter.

_{1400-year-old goat leather shoe found inside a cave in China; Photo source: Live Science; Name of the photographer: unknown}

Connolly noted that a collection of human remains discovered in Nevada, known as the Spirit Cave Mummy, may have shoes older than the Fort Rock Cave sandals. This mummy, which is about 10,600 years old, has leather “moccasin” shoes, or in other words, leather moccasins. However, scientists have yet to directly measure the age of the mummy’s shoes.

150 thousand years old shoes in Africa?

While these examples are the oldest known shoes, there may be evidence that humans invented shoes much earlier. According to a study in 2023, it is possible that fossils on the beach in South Africa belong to shoes that date back to 150,000 years ago.

_{Possible shoe prints in the Garden Route National Park in South Africa; Photo source: discovermagazine; Photographer’s name: Charles Helm}

When Charles Helm, a researcher at Nelson Mandela University in South Africa, and his colleagues analyzed the fossil footprints, they noticed similarities with human footprints; with the difference that there were no footprints. This showed that probably the people who made these footprints were wearing shoes.

“Charles Helm” says about this:

It is amazing and inspiring to think that our ancestors had the ability to make and wear shoes at that time. Probably then, as today, protection from injury and dealing with extreme temperatures was a motivation for making shoes.

_{Spanish hemp sandal; Photo credit: NBC 7 San Diego; Name of the photographer: unknown}

However, they did not find any direct fossils of the shoes. According to Helm, the organic materials from which the ancient shoes were made probably disappeared a long time ago, and for this reason, the need to search for other evidence is felt.

In a 2023 study, researchers looked at sandals used by the indigenous San people of the Kalahari Desert to better understand the shape and structure of ancient footwear. They also examined 2,000-year-old rock art of the San people that depicted a shaman wearing shoes.

_{2,300-year old boot in the State Hermitage Museum in Russia; Photo source: Earthly Mission; Name of the photographer: unknown}

Helm and his colleagues made different types of shoes and, wearing them, created footprints in the sands of South Africa’s southern coast. They found that a hard, open-soled design created on moist, slightly soft sand matched the fossil footprints best.

Connolly also believes about the age of the first shoes:

150,000 years is very old; But I don’t rule it out completely.

_{Photo source: Core77, NBC News, Offbeat Oregon History, wikimedia; The name of the photographer of the first photo: Josef Chlachula}

Did you like the story of the origin of shoes? How do you think humans came to design shoes from the beginning? What do you think of this amazing development? Please let Kajaro and its users know your valuable opinion.

_{Cover photo source: Discover Magazine; Name of the photographer: unknown}