14th-Century Shoe Unearthed Beneath Freiberg Construction Site

Archaeologists in Freiberg, Germany, have uncovered the remains of a 14th-century leather shoe during excavation work beneath a modern construction site. The discovery was made under Pfarrgasse, one of the city’s oldest lanes, providing a rare glimpse into everyday life during the Middle Ages.

Only the upper section of the leather shoe has survived, but experts believe it once belonged to a medieval resident. “It’s likely the shoe was discarded after being worn out,” said Christoph Heiermann, head of the Saxon State Office for Archaeology in Dresden, in an interview with Newsweek.

The remarkable preservation of the shoe is credited to the area’s damp soil, which prevented the leather from decaying. “It remained preserved in the moist ground for centuries,” Heiermann told Freie Presse. The artifact is now being stored in water at a restoration lab to prevent it from drying and crumbling.

Nearby ceramic fragments suggest the shoe dates back to the 14th century AD. “We’re keeping all materials wet to protect them from damage,” Heiermann added.

Excavations at the site also revealed unpaved road surfaces from the 15th and 16th centuries, as well as a pit containing fire debris, broken pottery, and rubble from the 14th and early 15th centuries. “Pfarrgasse is one of the oldest parts of Freiberg,” Heiermann explained. “The moisture in the soil—possibly from a long-lost pond—has preserved rare organic materials like leather that would otherwise have decomposed.”

Roughly five feet below the surface, archaeologists also discovered evidence of that ancient water source and wooden water pipes from the 17th and 18th centuries.

“The trench excavation is complete, and the larger road work is now underway,” said excavation manager Silvio Bock. “We expect to uncover more traces of historic roads and structures as work continues.”

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