Leather Footwear from the Posad of Sviyazhsk: an Experience of Reconstrucion of Simple Porshni

Abstract

The authors use simple porshni (one-piece leather-hide shoes) from Sviyazhsk to test an approach to systemic classification of the late medieval leather footwear. They describe the main stages in restoration and reconstruction of archaeological finds, which make it possible to reproduce the cut of the parts. This approach enables examining such morphological and technological features as the cut and the assemblage, types of seams, method of decoration and ornamentation, and fastening of the shoes. It was interesting to discover traces of different mending activities on porshni, most likely meant to extend their durability. Measurements offered an approximate anthropometric profile of Sviyazhsk population. The reconstruction enabled distinguishing three types of simple porshni spread in Sviyazhsk in late 16th – early 18th centuries. Analogies helped establishing that the third version of the simple porshni from Sviyazhsk is a product of the local masters. Analysis of the raw material showed that this model used tannin leather, typical for shoe-shops.

Keywords

• archaeology
• Volga region
• late Middle Ages
• Sviyazhsk
• posad
• leather footwear
• simple porshni (one-piece leather-hide shoes)
• restoration
• reconstruction.