Shown here are sandal soles of the soleae style. Intact sandals of this type, dating from different centuries, were found at Masada and in the Cave of Letters, all in the Dead Sea region.
These soles are made of three layers of leather secured with leather bindings. Through slits situated near the heel, tabs entered the upper sole. The upper part of each tab was pierced by two vertical slits through which the main strap was threaded. The two ends of the main strap were then threaded into a slit on the upper part of the sandal, near the toe, where they were tied, holding the foot onto the sole.
Sandal A: length 8 5/8 in., width 2 5/8 in.
Sandal B: length 8 1/4 in., width 2 1/8 in.
Courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority (88,89)