Leather Shoes and Other Leather Objects at Vindolanda

The anaerobic conditions of the soil at Vindolanda have conserved a large collection of leather objects used during the Roman life of the fort and garrison. It is the biggest collection of leather items found anywhere in the Roman empire - and it is being added to each year as new objects are excavated. The collection is dominated by Roman footwear - boots, shoes, sandals, slippers, bath clogs of varying different sizes and types, some of which are clearly women and children. Other artefacts include a Roman ceremonial horse chamfron and many other leather goods including buckets, bags, purses and an archer's thumb guard, as well as at least three leather military tents. About 6,000 leather pieces have been found at the site.