Researchers from the University of Alcalá and the Autonomous University of Barcelona have shed light on a discovery that dates back to the 19th century. They confirmed that this pair of esparto grass sandals is even older than the footwear found in Armenia in 2008, which is estimated to be 5,500 years old.
Artifacts from the Bat Cave
A total of 76 items were uncovered in the remote Cueva de los Murciélagos (or “Bat Cave”) located in southern Andalusia. Some of these artifacts are around 9,500 years old. Among them were a set of woven baskets and simple wooden tools, including a hammer and a sharpened stick.
All the artifacts have been remarkably well-preserved, according to the Daily Mail. Scientists noted that a cool, dry breeze has flowed through the cave for millennia, maintaining low humidity levels and preventing the spread of bacteria that could have damaged these items.
The History of the Discovery
The sandals and other items were first discovered in 1831 by a farmer collecting bat guano for fertilizer (guano is the natural decomposition of seabird droppings and bat excrement). In the mid-19th century, the artifacts were examined and described by researcher Manuel de Góngora. After his death, the materials were transferred to the National Archaeological Museum of Madrid. Over the years, scientists have attempted to date the sandals, but it was only recently, through radiocarbon dating, that the exact age of the footwear was established. It turns out the sandals are 2,000 years older than previously believed.
Maria Herrero Otal, a researcher at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, noted that this pair of shoes is the “oldest and best-preserved” plant fiber artifact found in Southern Europe.
The findings were published in the journal Science.