How was the ancient Areni-1 shoe from Armenia made?
Answera single piece of hide leather
The leather wrapped around the foot and was laced with a leather thong.
Source: Pinhasi et al., PLoS ONE 2010 (full text via Europe PMC) (2010) ebi.ac.uk
Style · Facts & sources
Shoe facts & stats
6 sourced facts about shoes, each with the context behind the number. 4 more are in today's round and appear here after it closes.
The basics
What was a typical ancient Egyptian sandal made from?
AnswerHalfa grass, papyrus or palm leaves
They were woven much like coiled baskets.
Source: Johns Hopkins University Libraries (2017) library.jhu.edu
Going deeper
What did artisans use to decorate King Tutankhamun's luxury sandals?
Answergold, birch bark, bone and perhaps glass inlays
Ordinary Egyptian sandals were far simpler — woven from grass, papyrus or palm leaves.
Source: Johns Hopkins University Libraries (2017) library.jhu.edu
Ancient Egyptian thong sandals — early flip-flops — date back about how far?
Answeras far back as 4,000 years
They date to Egypt's Middle Kingdom (about 2050–1800 BCE), and thong footwear may have emerged as early as about 3,100 BCE.
Source: Johns Hopkins University Libraries (2017) library.jhu.edu
Expert level
How long is the ancient Areni-1 leather shoe?
Answer24.5 cm long — about European size 37
It's 7.6 to 10 cm wide — found in 2008 at the base of a pit in the cave.
Source: Pinhasi et al., PLoS ONE 2010 (full text via Europe PMC) (2010) ebi.ac.uk
The top of the 5,600-year-old Areni-1 shoe was laced through how many sets of eyelets?
Answer15 sets (plus 4 at the back)
A leather thong stitched the back and top of the shoe together.
Source: Pinhasi et al., PLoS ONE 2010 (full text via Europe PMC) (2010) ebi.ac.uk
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