Researchers have unveiled the unearthing of Roman sea dragon bones and various artifacts along Hadrian’s Wall, shedding new light on the area’s ancient history.

In 2016, archaeologists unearthed a remarkable trove of artifacts, including animal bones, pottery, leather, and an astonishing 421 pairs of Roman shoes, during an excavation of the ditch near Hadrian’s Wall. Visitors fortunate enough to visit Vindolanda that summer witnessed the captivating discovery of these shoes, each offering a glimpse into the life of its wearer. Among the finds were baby boots, toddler shoes, footwear for teens, ladies, and men, as well as bath clogs for both indoor and outdoor use.

What has been inconceivable recently are more moral representations than a single slipper for each person who lived inside the fort in Vindolanda at that time. Dr Andrew Birley, the Vindolanda Trust’s chief executive and Director of Excavations, was thrilled by what he calls ‘an unreachable and inconceivable demographic parallel to a community in conflict for two millennia’. The volume of shoes is fantastic, as is their diversity, even for a site like Vindolanda which has produced more Roman shoes than any other place since the Roman Empire.”

The shoes are being preserved on site with a specific and advanced plating technique to match the amount of fines. Trust Curator, Dr Andrew Birley, noted “the volume of footwear has presented some challenges for our lab, with the fact that the worn-out volumes we have created a specific pace for shoe conservation and the process is now well underway.” .” Barbara also went on to say “The Vindolanda Trust is committed to the excavation, conservation and publication of its finds although each shoe costs between £80 and £100 to preserve.

Finalizing so many shoes this year has resulted in significant additional costs for the laboratory. In light of the cost associated with the found shoe, the Trust has launched a funding campaign asking for support to support the future conservation work on the shoe.