‘Unnerving’ ancient discovery that changes knowledge of history leaves archaeologists gasping

A recent archaeological discovery has left researchers shocked and could change what we know about ancient Romans.

Back in the summer of 2025, researchers in the UK visited the Roman Fort Magna in Northumberland and made a particularly impressive discovery, which dwarfs others in the collection.

Modern advancements mean that sometimes old discoveries can be completely reevaluated, with an ancient Egyptian tool recently teaching us that the civilisation had access to electric-style drills far earlier than we previously thought.

But it was less about the discovery and more about the size of it that left archaeologists gasping at Fort Magna, as they came across a Roman shoe which measured in at over 12 inches, the equivalent of a size 13 or 14 in today's money.

Rachel Frame, the senior archaeologist for the project, wrote: "(It) immediately drew impressed gasps from volunteers and staff alike."

The gigantic shoe in all its glory (The Vindolanda Trust)

Frame detailed the construction of the Roman footwear in her notes: "This gives us a really good look at how Roman shoes were made: multiple layers of leather were used to form the sole, held together with tongs, stitching, and hobnails," she explained. "These also reinforced the outer surface for walking and are found on many styles of shoe."

Around 5,000 shoes have been discovered at the nearby Vindolanda settlement, of which 'just four or five were that large', which goes to show just how rare it was to have feet that size back then.

Dr Elizabeth Greene, Associate Professor at the University of Western Ontario and Vindolanda’s shoe specialist, has seen and measured every shoe in the Vindolanda collection.

Greene commented: “I think there is something very different going on here at Magna, even from this small sample uncovered it is clear that these shoes are much larger on average than most of the Vindolanda collection."

There are all sorts of potential reasons for why people from ancient civilisations might have had bigger feet, as they perhaps gave their feet more time to breathe before stuffing them into size one trainers as a kid, while also spending more time barefoot thanks to the better weather they probably had growing up.

It also suggests that they belonged to someone very tall indeed, as they're just one size smaller than that of LeBron James, with the basketball legend standing at a gigantic six foot nine.

Frame added: "We have to assume it's something to do with the people living here, having bigger feet, being potentially taller but we don't know.

"Are the people living there from a specific region? Could that be why their shoes are so much larger? But at the moment, it's sort of, well, this is unusual."