Tough as old boots: a Thames skeleton's durable footwear

Archaeologists say man who died 500 years ago may have been a mudlark or fisherman

He was found lying on his front, head twisted to the side. One arm was bent above his head, suggesting he had fallen - or perhaps had been pushed - to his death in the river more than five centuries ago.

But aside from his puzzling position, the skeleton discovered this year near the shore of the Thames in London was notable for another, very particular reason. Though his clothes had long since decayed, on the man's feet were a pair of remarkably well preserved - and extremely rare - knee-high leather boots. Might they hold clues, archaeologists wondered, to who the man was and, just possibly, how he died?