# 2,000-Year-Old Grass Sandals Discovered Iron Age sandals unearthed in Spain shed light on ancient history. - **Source:** [Popular Science](https://brifing.si/source/cc3d313a-759c-4802-b881-fc8585f35ef9) - **Published:** 2026-07-21 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/89575262-8629-44c7-bdde-f9fccc4ffb13 ## Historic Discovery Grass sandals from the Iron Age were discovered in Spain. These sandals provide new insights into life in the Iberian Peninsula during the arrival of the Roman Empire. ## Excavation Site The sandals were found in Urium, an ancient mining settlement located 55 miles west of Seville. Archaeologists discovered them in ash deposits near a metallurgical workshop complex. ## Material and Construction The sandals were made from a sturdy grass called esparto. This grass was used raw and woven into flat, narrow braids, which were then shaped into shoe soles. ## Signs of Use The sandals showed heavy signs of use. Most were missing their foot-securing cords, and the forefoot sections displayed damage indicative of long-term wear. ## Dating Radiocarbon dating revealed that the sandals were made between 360 BCE and 124 CE. This suggests that Urium was home to local workers for nearly 500 years. ## Significance This discovery is a rare example of organic materials surviving for millennia. The sandals offer valuable clues about the daily lives of Iron Age laborers. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.popsci.com/science/grass-sandals-iron-age-spain/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._