Archaeologists were left stunned when they uncovered a 2,000 year old shoe which has an uncanny resemblance to an Adidas Predator football boot.
The small black shoe was discovered at a Roman fort in Northumberland.
The distinctive ridges on the shoe's outer shell and curved space for laces winding down to the toe give it a strong resemblance to the 21st century trainer.
Did Adidas take inspiration from the ROMANS? 2,000-year-old shoe looks just like the company's Predator boots
Black shoe was discovered at the Vindolanda Roman fort in Hexham
It has distinctive ridges and space for laces, much like the Adidas Predator
It is one of 420 shoes to have been found in the ditch, which was a Roman rubbish dump
By Shivali Best For Mailonline
21 September 2016
Archaeologists were left stunned when they uncovered a 2,000 year old shoe which has an uncanny resemblance to an Adidas Predator football boot.
The small black shoe was discovered at a Roman fort in Northumberland.
The distinctive ridges on the shoe's outer shell and curved space for laces winding down to the toe give it a strong resemblance to the 21st century trainer.
Archaeologists were left stunned when they uncovered a 2,000 year old shoe which has an uncanny resemblance to an Adidas Predator football boot. The small black shoe was discovered at a Roman fort in Northumberland
The ancient shoe was discovered in a ditch at Vindolanda, a Roman fort close to Hexham, Northumberland.
Staff soon realised it looked more like a modern day football boot than a shoe worn almost two millennia ago.
Sonya Galloway, Vindolanda's spokesperson, said: 'We couldn't believe it when we noticed how similar it looks to an Adidas Predator football boot.
'We put a picture of it on Twitter and the father of one of my son's friends spotted the resemblance. We've had a lot of comments on social media about it.
The ancient shoe was discovered in a ditch at Roman fort Vindolanda close to Hexham, Northumberland. Staff soon realised it looked more like a modern day football boot than a shoe worn almost two millennia ago
'The boot is the modern day equivalent of around a size one, and would have been worn by a child between the ages of eight and ten.
'It is a good quality shoe. Just like the children of today, Roman children would have been very fashion conscious.
'It is the kind of shoe which would have been worn by a wealthy Roman child.'
The shoe was discovered around a fortnight ago in the Severan ditch at the fort by Vindolanda archaeologists and will now go on permanent display.
It is one of 420 shoes to have been found in the ditch, which was a Roman rubbish dump.
Archaeologists have dated the shoe back to around 212AD and say it was made from a single piece of leather.
There is an empty space where the shoe's laces would have tied the leather together.
The shoe was discovered around a fortnight ago in the Severan ditch at the fort by Vindolanda archaeologists and will now go on permanent display. It is one of 420 shoes to have been found in the ditch, which was a Roman rubbish dump
The Vindolanda fort was occupied by the Romans from around 70BC until the collapse of the empire in the 5th century
Ms Galloway added: 'Our discoveries at the fort mean we can start to piece together a real picture of how the Roman people lived.
'We think we have one shoe for every person who lived at the fort, and they differ in quality, showing disparities in affluence.'
Vindolanda has a team of three archaeologists who are joined by around 500 volunteers each year.
It was a Roman fort situated just south of Hadrian's Wall, which it predates, and guarded the Stanegate, the Roman road from the River Tyne to the Solway Firth.
It was occupied by the Romans from around 70BC until the collapse of the empire.
The fort is noted for its wooden tablets, among the most important finds of military and private correspondence found anywhere in the Roman Empire.
Vindolanda was a Roman fort situated just south of Hadrian's Wall, which it predates, and guarded the Stanegate, the Roman road from the River Tyne to the Solway Firt
The fort is noted for its wooden tablets, among the most important finds of military and private correspondence found anywhere in the Roman Empire
WHAT WAS VINDOLANDA'S ROLE IN ROMAN BRITAIN?
Vinolanda is a Roman fort south of Hadrian's Wall in northern England.
Soldiers stationed there guarded the Roman road from the River Tyne to Solway Firth.
Wooden tablets were discovered there which are considered the most important examples of military and private correspondence found anywhere in the Roman Empire.
The garrison was home to auxiliary infantry and cavalry units - not parts of Roman legions.
Roman boots, shoes, armours, jewellery, coins and tablets have all been found there.
In 2006, a richly-decorated silver brooch featuring the figure of Mars was found.
It belonged to Quintus Sollonius, a Gaul, whose name was inscribed on the brooch.
Read more: Did Adidas take inspiration from the ROMANS? 2,000-year-old shoe looks just like Predator boots | Daily Mail Online
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
The small black shoe was discovered at a Roman fort in Northumberland.
The distinctive ridges on the shoe's outer shell and curved space for laces winding down to the toe give it a strong resemblance to the 21st century trainer.
Did Adidas take inspiration from the ROMANS? 2,000-year-old shoe looks just like the company's Predator boots
Black shoe was discovered at the Vindolanda Roman fort in Hexham
It has distinctive ridges and space for laces, much like the Adidas Predator
It is one of 420 shoes to have been found in the ditch, which was a Roman rubbish dump
By Shivali Best For Mailonline
21 September 2016
Archaeologists were left stunned when they uncovered a 2,000 year old shoe which has an uncanny resemblance to an Adidas Predator football boot.
The small black shoe was discovered at a Roman fort in Northumberland.
The distinctive ridges on the shoe's outer shell and curved space for laces winding down to the toe give it a strong resemblance to the 21st century trainer.
Archaeologists were left stunned when they uncovered a 2,000 year old shoe which has an uncanny resemblance to an Adidas Predator football boot. The small black shoe was discovered at a Roman fort in Northumberland
The ancient shoe was discovered in a ditch at Vindolanda, a Roman fort close to Hexham, Northumberland.
Staff soon realised it looked more like a modern day football boot than a shoe worn almost two millennia ago.
Sonya Galloway, Vindolanda's spokesperson, said: 'We couldn't believe it when we noticed how similar it looks to an Adidas Predator football boot.
'We put a picture of it on Twitter and the father of one of my son's friends spotted the resemblance. We've had a lot of comments on social media about it.
The ancient shoe was discovered in a ditch at Roman fort Vindolanda close to Hexham, Northumberland. Staff soon realised it looked more like a modern day football boot than a shoe worn almost two millennia ago
'The boot is the modern day equivalent of around a size one, and would have been worn by a child between the ages of eight and ten.
'It is a good quality shoe. Just like the children of today, Roman children would have been very fashion conscious.
'It is the kind of shoe which would have been worn by a wealthy Roman child.'
The shoe was discovered around a fortnight ago in the Severan ditch at the fort by Vindolanda archaeologists and will now go on permanent display.
It is one of 420 shoes to have been found in the ditch, which was a Roman rubbish dump.
Archaeologists have dated the shoe back to around 212AD and say it was made from a single piece of leather.
There is an empty space where the shoe's laces would have tied the leather together.
The shoe was discovered around a fortnight ago in the Severan ditch at the fort by Vindolanda archaeologists and will now go on permanent display. It is one of 420 shoes to have been found in the ditch, which was a Roman rubbish dump
The Vindolanda fort was occupied by the Romans from around 70BC until the collapse of the empire in the 5th century
Ms Galloway added: 'Our discoveries at the fort mean we can start to piece together a real picture of how the Roman people lived.
'We think we have one shoe for every person who lived at the fort, and they differ in quality, showing disparities in affluence.'
Vindolanda has a team of three archaeologists who are joined by around 500 volunteers each year.
It was a Roman fort situated just south of Hadrian's Wall, which it predates, and guarded the Stanegate, the Roman road from the River Tyne to the Solway Firth.
It was occupied by the Romans from around 70BC until the collapse of the empire.
The fort is noted for its wooden tablets, among the most important finds of military and private correspondence found anywhere in the Roman Empire.
Vindolanda was a Roman fort situated just south of Hadrian's Wall, which it predates, and guarded the Stanegate, the Roman road from the River Tyne to the Solway Firt
The fort is noted for its wooden tablets, among the most important finds of military and private correspondence found anywhere in the Roman Empire
WHAT WAS VINDOLANDA'S ROLE IN ROMAN BRITAIN?
Vinolanda is a Roman fort south of Hadrian's Wall in northern England.
Soldiers stationed there guarded the Roman road from the River Tyne to Solway Firth.
Wooden tablets were discovered there which are considered the most important examples of military and private correspondence found anywhere in the Roman Empire.
The garrison was home to auxiliary infantry and cavalry units - not parts of Roman legions.
Roman boots, shoes, armours, jewellery, coins and tablets have all been found there.
In 2006, a richly-decorated silver brooch featuring the figure of Mars was found.
It belonged to Quintus Sollonius, a Gaul, whose name was inscribed on the brooch.
Read more: Did Adidas take inspiration from the ROMANS? 2,000-year-old shoe looks just like Predator boots | Daily Mail Online
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
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