Over 20 pairs of 6,000-year-old grass sandals discovered in Spanish cave, challenging assumptions about early human societies

Sandals made from esparto grass were found in the Cueva de los Murciélagos cave in southern Spain.
Radiocarbon dating shows the sandals are about 6,200 years old, making them the oldest known footwear in Europe.
The cave also contained ancient wooden tools, baskets, and other organic artifacts preserved by the dry conditions.
The artifacts provide evidence of craftsmanship and use of basketry by Mesolithic hunter-gatherers and early farmers.
The discovery challenges previous assumptions about the complexity of pre-agricultural communities in the region.