Neolithic shoes better than modern?

Prehistoric 'shoes' made out of bearskin and hay are better for mountain walks than modern hiking boots, claims an expert.

Shoe specialist Petr Hlavacek has been studying the shoes found on the feet of a prehistoric iceman whose mummified body was found in an Alpine glacier in 1991.

Mr Hlavacek, who reconstructed a pair of the shoes, said they kept the foot at an optimal temperature, allowed sweat to evaporate and dried quickly if they got wet. The footwear engineer's version went on display this week at the Leather Museum in Offenbach.

No word on when they might go on sale. From Ananova.

Posted by David on June 20, 2003 2:21 PM