Stiefel der "Moorleiche von Peiting"

Archäologische Staatssammlung München

Description

The "woman of Peiting", who was found in 1957 during peat cutting on the municipal territory of Hohenpeißenberg, is the only known bog from Bavaria to date. She was buried in a wooden coffin with her arms crossed over her chest near a path leading through the moor. According to radiocarbon dating, this unusual burial probably took place in the 14th century. For reasons that can no longer be determined today, the dead woman was not buried in the village cemetery but in the bog. This was possible in the late Middle Ages with suicides, the banished and executed, but also with people from outside the town or travellers. The cause of death of the woman who died at the age of 20-30 is not known. According to forensic medical examinations, she was obviously well-fed and had a somewhat unusual appearance due to an anomaly in her jaw.

The state of preservation of the knee-high leather boots she wore at her funeral and certainly during her lifetime is particularly impressive. They are made of two different leather materials, with the upper being made of softer, more supple goatskin, while the sole, vamp and heel reinforcement are made of more durable cowhide. The boots show clear signs of wear; the one on the right apparently had to be mended with a patch during the woman's lifetime.

Author

Archäologische Staatssammlung München

Rights Statement Description

CC BY-NC-SA 4.0