Discovery of 2,000-Year-Old Massive Shoe Reveals the Goliath of Roman Warriors

[Judi Lynn]

By
Nisha Zahid
June 13, 2025



The fully intact Roman shoe sole, measuring 32 centimeters, may be the largest ever found at the Magna site. Credit: Magna Project

Archaeologists in northern England have uncovered a massive leather shoe dating back nearly 2,000 years, sparking interest in the possible presence of Roman warriors of exceptional size.

The discovery was made at Magna, an ancient Roman fort situated along Hadrian’s Wall. Measuring 12.6 inches (32 centimeters) in length – roughly a modern US men’s size 14, UK size 13, or European size 49 – the shoe is among the largest ever found at the site. Researchers believe it may have belonged to one of the tallest Roman warriors stationed in Britain.

Shoe found in an ancient Roman trench

The massive shoe was found at the bottom of a deep, narrow trench outside the fort’s northern edge. Known as an “ankle-breaker,” the trench was designed to injure and trap advancing enemies, especially when concealed by water. The airless, wet conditions helped preserve the leather for centuries.

Rachel Frame, senior archaeologist for the Magna Project, wrote, “Could this one be the largest in the Vindolanda Trust collection? We certainly look forward to finding out!”

Magna Fort once guarded the empire’s frontier

Magna – also known as Carvoran – is one of several Roman forts along Hadrian’s Wall, built around A.D. 122 to mark the northern boundary of the Roman Empire. The site lies about 7 miles (11 kilometers) west of Vindolanda, a better-known Roman fort renowned for its collection of preserved artifacts, including writing tablets, armor, and footwear.

More:
https://greekreporter.com/2025/06/13/massive-shoe-goliath-roman-warriors/

[displacedvermoter]

1. Probably the center on an inter Legion basketball team

[Submariner]

3. Yeah, he was definitely picked in the first round of the Coliseum draft

[AllaN01Bear]

2. hokey smoke

[stillcool]

4. stuff is amazing

my husband was into astronomy and looking up can take me away, but the thought of what could be down doesn't occur to me. As if it's taboo or something.

[buzzycrumbhunger]

5. Well, it looks huge in that picture...

… but my son is 6’ 4” and wears a size 14, and doesn’t seem terribly big to me.

Of course, I once toured Ulysses Grant’s home in Galena, IL and noted his shoes looked like a size 5, so perhaps a size 14 guy 2000 years ago *was* really remarkable.

[chouchou]

6. 12 inch shoe is not that rare. My husband wears 11 1/2 penny loafers.

His shoes are 'bout 12.2 inch.

Of course, the con-men of Facebook will be blasting.. "We've proved that our ancestors were gigantic!!"
,,,along with Noah's Ark.

[nilram]

8. Foot length of 11.54" is at the 95th percentile currently

So this ancient roman's foot is larger than 95% of contemporary US men's feet.

https://ergocenter.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2017/09/Anthropometric-Summary-Data-Tables.pdf

[chouchou]

7. 32 centimeters is 12.6 inch

Plenty of men wear those large sizes...at this time. That probably was huge in that day...

[nilram]

9. Where "plenty of men" less than 5%?

https://ergocenter.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2017/09/Anthropometric-Summary-Data-Tables.pdf

[chouchou]

10. You can argue with the 8,75,000 men about that ('bout 174 million men in the USA.)