A different take on the shoe fettish

Why are you amazed that they tried to make them more comfortable? After all, that's why they made them: to ease and protect their feet. After all, they walked everywhere. And since the cave they were found in is very dry, I'm guessing there wasn't any moss to cushion them.

I had not thought of why grass, but you make a very good point Barbra, dry areas have to use what they have. Another plus for the durability of the yucca like plants. The shoes just looked really pretty nice.

hiya barbara
Not so much amazed that they tried, but at the fact earlier designers can think of this and modern day designers very rarely do.

I remember reading in Clan of the Cave Bear that they stuffed grasses in their footwear to keep their feet warm, why not pad them. Heck I've worn mocs and they have NO protection except a thin layer of leather if you don't put some in.

That's something like the thin soled pumps we wear nowadays Elic, you can feel every little stone you stand on

Glad you did too, I think the roomie (who found this) does a pretty good job of finding stuff. I had to nag her to include the links so I could post the articles, I don't want anyone to accuse me of just coping stuff from other sites.

hiya barbara
try saving the pic to your computer then makes some adjustments to it so that you can view them more clearly. The weaving on that first picture has created a nice pattern too.

well, ya know, I have 7 1/2 to 8 sized feet, and I've know ladies taller than I am who have about the same size - sometimes smaller. I think it has to do more with the bone size of the people, and remember - they might've been somewhat smaller than if they had grown up today - because of diet and medical help.

Wellll...I have heard that walking a lot (which they had to do!) makes feet spread out.

Hmmm. Now I'm picturing 5 foot tall folks with clown feet....

Maggiepie
"WHERE'S THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE?"

ya got me, it sounds like the cave might've had lots of different inhabitants, apparently they only really mention the oldest age of the shoes, not the newer one, tho they are kind of mentioned in passing

Well, I think ever since people came out of Africa, they've had footwear - probably before...

At least the oldest footwear in the New World...

8000 years ago? I don't know that there is anything older in the old world, but I could be wrong, I've not researched the question.

Neither have I, but I feel safer qualifying it

hey - just noticed the obnoxious post is gone!

I agree, I mean, with the local materials, there's only so many ways to weave a sandal...

Cleaning up for the New Year, Elic?

Just kidding. You, of all people, know how much I appreciate the Best Response mark! Thank you! Make my day, why doncha?

Love,
Maggiepie

didn't have many notifications so I decided to take care of some unfinished business....

I wouldn't be surprised if making copies hasn't been done. And I doubt they all belonged to the same person - after all, the cave was lived in for thousands of years