Experts Examine 2,000-Year-Old Roman-Era Woman’s Shoeprint Found in Sagalassos

In the ancient city of Sagalassos, located in Türkiye’s Burdur province, archaeologists are conducting a detailed study of a 2,000-year-old woman’s shoeprint preserved on a clay tile. The rare Roman-era find offers new insight into women’s roles in ancient society and will soon be recreated in full detail.

A Rediscovered Trace of Daily Life

Sagalassos, a UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List site and one of the Roman Empire’s most prominent urban centers, continues to reveal traces of its past. Among previously unearthed artifacts, researchers are now focusing on a clay tile bearing the imprint of a hobnailed Roman shoe (caligae). The mark is considered one of the few tangible pieces of evidence of daily life in Roman cities of Anatolia.

Evidence Points to a Woman’s Shoe

Professor Jeroen Poblome from KU Leuven University’s Department of Archaeology, who has been working at Sagalassos for over three decades, explained that the shoeprint measures roughly a European size 37.
“This find proves that women also wore hobnailed footwear and played an active role in social life during the Roman period,” Poblome noted.

Reconstructing Ancient Roman Footwear

The print has been studied under a microscope, allowing experts to map the precise placement of long and short nails in the sole. Archaeologists now plan to reconstruct the original leather shoe based on the findings, using hobnails excavated from the site’s storerooms. The project aims to recreate a piece of Roman rural life and craftsmanship as it was two millennia ago.

Sagalassos: A Roman Hub of Culture and Industry

Located in the Pisidia region, Sagalassos was a major center of art, trade, and industry during the Roman era, known especially as one of the empire’s five largest ceramic production hubs. The shoeprint study not only highlights the city’s architectural and economic prominence but also offers a rare glimpse into the daily lives of its inhabitants.

Cover Photo
A 2,000-year-old Roman-era woman’s shoeprint with hobnails preserved on a clay tile, discovered in the ancient city of Sagalassos, Türkiye. AA