LONDON, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- A skeleton with remarkably well-preserved knee-high leather boots was found Tuesday in the River Thames, local media reported.

The mysterious male skeleton, which is believed to have dated back 500 years ago, was found face down in the Thames mud by archaeologists working on one of the sites used to build London's sewers in Bermondsey, local media reported

The man's tough leather boots have incredibly survived centuries and are in good enough condition for examination, reports said.

Archaeologists are currently trying to determine who the man was, how he came to be found in the Thames and how long he has been there.

Experts estimate the skeleton could have been in the murky waters since the late 1400s or early 1500s at the latest.

It is believed he may have been under the age of 35 when he died.