File:11th century shoe (FindID 971263).jpg

English: An incomplete stitched leather 10th century 'foot bag' type possible turnshoe dating to the period c.AD 942-996.

Description: The shoe is of bag type being a simple design produced from one piece of leather folded over and stitched together, with an integrated sole and upper. There is a double band of stitching visible around the lower right side some with thread remaining. Other areas have evidence of stiching but this is less clear because of the condition of the shoe. Although the shoe has lost some of it shape so the upper part of the toe end is uncertain the larger point of the rounded toe is on the left indicating it is a right shoe. The shoe has a an even dark brown colour although still has much ingrained dirt.

Measurements: 230mm long, 95.37mm wide, 31.72mm thick and 34.67g in weight.

Discussion: This shoe is of a simple 'foot bag' type being a simple single piece of leather folded over the foot with integrated sole. The stitching may show it to be a turnshoe, a group defined by the method on construction where the shoe was stiched together and then turned inside-out. Turnshoes were used through the middle ages in Europe and pinning the type down by type was unsuccessful although similar types with stitching around the mouth are seen on shoes from the Anglo-Scandinavian and early high Medieval period e.g. <a href="https://www.yorkmuseumstrust.org.uk/collections/search/item/?id=7579&search_query=bGltaXQ9MTYmc2VhcmNoX3RleHQ9c2hvZSZHcyU1Qm9wZXJhdG9yJTVEPSUzRSUzRCZHcyU1QnZhbHVlJTVEPSZHZSU1Qm9wZXJhdG9yJTVEPSUzQyUzRCZHZSU1QnZhbHVlJTVEPSZGTj0%3D">YORYM:1978.7.5286</a> which is dated to c.AD 866-1066. Through calibrated carbon-14 dating a date of c.AD 969 ± 27 was arrived at which is accepted and recorded here.