Mongolian researchers are investigating the mysteries surrounding the over 1,000-year-old mummy of a woman wearing shoes that closely resemble modern Adidas sneakers.
The Mongolian Mummy gained fame in April 2016 due to her modern-looking footwear, which closely resembles athletic shoes. In the 12 months that followed, scientists worked to delve deeper into the mystery of the mummy, believed to be in her 30s or 40s. The woman’s shoes have been carefully cleaned, with new images published on April 12 on the Siberian Times website.
Experts at the Mongolian Cultural Heritage Center believe that the woman died 1,100 years ago from a severe head injury. Preliminary examinations suggest that a strong blow to the facial bones is likely the cause of her death.
The shoes of the Mongolian woman after being cleaned and restored. (Photo: Siberian Times).
The research team is still attempting to determine the exact dating of the burial, but they estimate that the interment occurred in the 10th century. “With the stripes, the discovery has been compared to Adidas sneakers. It is an intriguing object for ethnologists, especially because the shoe design is very modern,” remarked Galbadrakh Enkhbat, the director of the center, about the shoes.
The high altitude and cold weather helped preserve both the woman’s body and the personal items buried with her, including a Shilajit cloak, made from thick material ranging in color from white to dark brown, covering her body. Some skin and hair remain on the mummy, wrapped in felt fabric.
The woman was buried with several items, including a handbag, four sets of clothing, a mirror, a comb, and a knife. A horse and its saddle were also buried with her and remain in good condition. Despite owning many luxury items, scientists believe she was an ordinary person and not part of the nobility or royalty.
The tomb was excavated at an altitude of 2,803 meters, and the woman is believed to have belonged to a Turkic community. A group of sheep herders alerted archaeologists at the Khovd city museum upon discovering the burial site.
Immediately after images of the mummy and her shoes were released, the public showed great interest. Some even speculated whether the woman might have come from the future. According to this theory, she wore shoes from the future while traveling to the past, suggesting that this could be evidence of time travel.
This remains a theory. Currently, the scientific community has not been able to prove that time travel is real. Therefore, no one can assert that the shoes of the 1,000-year-old mummy are indeed items from a time travel journey.
