It is in a former defensive gap of the Roman Fort of Magna, in the north of England, that the team of “Magna Project” has uncovered an exceptionally large Roman shoe. This unusual discovery occurred at the end of March, reports the media online live science, in what they call a “ankle breaker”, a trench so narrow and deep that it could break the ankle of an enemy fallen into it. The shoe could deliver precious information on the manufacture of Roman shoes and on those that wore them.
In the ditch, three shoes and pieces of leather have been exhumed. They were kept thanks to the lack of oxygen from the basement at this location. Two of them, discovered on May 21, are in good condition, one still bearing a heel and nails on the sole. “It gives us a very good vision of the way Roman shoes were made”writes Rachel Frame, main archaeologist of the project, in the blog of excavations. Several layers of leather were sewn together with straps and nails.
The Fort de Magna, also called Carvoran, is located about 11 km west of Vindolanda, another site famous for the preservation of tablets, medals and shoes. To protect Hadrian’s wall after its construction, around 122 after J.-C., the Roman army built and reinforced several small strong places of this type. Magna was an integral part of this defensive network, and the new discoveries still reveal its potential. “It’s really promising for our future excavations”said Rachel Frame in a YouTube video.
An extraordinary size
It is the third shoe, found intact at the bottom of the ditch, which “Immediately aroused impressed exclamations”note frame. The sole is 32 centimeters long, the equivalent of a current 48.5 size. Today, more widespread, it should be much less at the time, and its owner considered a giant. “Could it be that it is the largest in the Vindolanda Trust collection?” We look forward to discovering it ”, she adds on the project blog.
Archaeologists at the Roman Fort Magna in Northern England Aarthed a massive leather shoe, Shedding light on ancient shoe manufacturing technical. The Fort, part of Hadrian’s Wall, Reveals Insights Into Roman Footwear Worn Nearly 2,000 years ago. pic.twitter.com/4ztu5tvtse
– Nyra Kraal (@nyrakraal) June 12, 2025
All the shoes and leather falls will now be studied by a specialist. The objective: to better understand who could wear such a large shoe and what profiles of inhabitants populated Magna in Roman times.
The shoe would have potentially belonged to a very large Roman soldier, but there is no element for the moment to be sure. “It really puts you in contact with people who once lived in the fort”writes a volunteer of the project on the blog. The singularity of the object could also reflect a tailor -made manufacturing or a specific function.
Archaeologists plan to widen the excavation inside the fort, in search of wooden buildings and what they contain. Perhaps they will find the XXXL braies of our Roman giant this time?
