First shoes are 40,000 years old

The first shoes were designed at least 40,000 years ago.

Scientists made the toe-curling discovery while examining bones from the feet of a 40,000-year-old skeleton found in a cave near Beijing in China.

Erik Trinkaus and Hong Shang, from Washington University in Missouri, measured the shape and density of the bones.

They then compared them with those from 20th century urban Americans' feet, and to late-prehistoric Native Americans and late-prehistoric Inuits.

The pair reckon the skeleton would have worn footwear because shoes alter the way a person walks...

•	First shoes are 40,000 years old The Sun (UK), Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2008 Byline: The Sun staff reporter

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