Valkenburg/Castleford style caliga step by step

[Martin Moser]

I simply left the heel to back area open. I haven't seen any information to attest to which is more correct, an open or closed heel. None of the cutting patterns that I've seen show stitch holes about the heel.

I think that closing the heel completely is the correct way. I've looked through my sources again and while none shows anyhting 100% definite on the original finds, all at least indicate to me that it was closed, e.g.



Also see the by me often cited Cancelleria relief in connection with a find from Mainz I wrote about over at the Roman Military History & Archaeology -> Puzzouli(Puteoli) Relief thread ( http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic.php?t=6794 ). That doesn't look to have been left open either.

Personal experience from walking a mountainous area for more than 10km (training for a march 2 years ago) w/full gear after days of heavy rainfalls and over muddy paths says close the heel section and everything else as well as you can. After an hour or so the leather straps invariably beginn to stretch and widen because of the wetness, even though the shoes were oiled and greased, and you start to slip around in them, making you glad for any hold you have. After drying the leather went back into place and original length remarkably well, btw.

That being said, I might still be wrong, however (still hoping and waiting for an answer from Carol van Driel-Murray to clear this up eventually)...