Archaeologists, conducting investigations at the Georgenberg Mine in Dürrnberg near Salzburg, have made a remarkable discovery—a well-preserved, 2000-year-old children’s shoe. This archaeological endeavor has been a collaborative effort between the German Mining Museum Bochum and the Leibniz Research Museum for Georesources since 2001.
Dürrnberg has been a site of mining activity for millennia, primarily for its abundant rock salt deposits. Previous studies in this region have unveiled artifacts and evidence of tribal settlements dating back to the Early Iron Age.
In recent excavations at the Georgenberg Mine, the team unearthed an impeccably preserved children’s shoe dating back two millennia. The exceptional preservation of this shoe can be attributed to the high salt levels in the mine, which inhibit the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms. Professor Dr. Thomas Stoellner, head of the research department, remarked, “The condition of the discovered shoe is truly exceptional.”
Crafted from leather, the shoe still retains traces of lacing made from flax or linen. Based on its design typology, it is likely that this shoe was manufactured during the 2nd century BC.
While leather shoes have been previously found in Dürrnberg, the presence of a child’s shoe in the mines suggests that children were involved in underground activities during ancient mining operations. Furthermore, excavations revealed a fragment of a wooden shovel and remnants of fur with accompanying lacing, which researchers believe may have belonged to a fur hood.
This exploration of Iron Age salt mining in Dürrnberg is part of a long-term research project generously supported by Salinen Austria AG and Salinen Tourismus, in collaboration with the Institute for Archaeological Sciences at Ruhr University Bochum. Dr. Stoellner reflected on the significance of these discoveries, noting, “Organic materials typically deteriorate over time. Finds such as this child’s shoe, as well as textile remnants and even excrement discovered in Dürrnberg, provide an exceptionally rare glimpse into the lives of Iron Age miners.”