Archaeologica.org

Where Else But Armenia? World's Oldest Leather Shoe Found

In the country of Mt. Ararat, where the Bible says Noe’s ark rested when the Great Flood subsided, there now is news of the discovery of the world’s oldest leather shoe. First announced on the plosone.org scientific website, the moccasin-looking shoe is made of cowhide, cut into two layers, and tanned with plant or vegetable oil. A leather cord is used to lace the shoe along front and back seams through leather eyelets.


Experts feel it probably was a right shoe and worn [...]

http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php ... shoe-found

The shoe was stuffed with grass, which scientists believe was meant to work as a shoe tree for holding the shape. It appeared to have been carefully placed in the clay-lined pit where it was found.

I wonder how much grass was in there. Might've just been insulation to keep out the cold. How does one tell if an artifact has been carefully placed or simply dropped? Obviously, since it was still under a pot, little or no postdepositional movement is likely to have taken place.

Otzi's shoes were stuffed with grass for insulation against the cold, the most likely explanation: http://archaeology.about.com/od/iterms/qt/iceman.htm.

"He wore a bear-skin cap, outer cape and coat made of woven grass and moccasin-type shoes made from deer and bear leather. He stuffed those shoes with moss and grasses, no doubt for insulation and comfort."