This device is equivalent to what we in America call crampons. These are tools used so you can walk in icy conditions and stick into the snow. I have always seen them done in a much more modern fashion, so it took me a second to realize exactly what these were. I would assume there was an additional strap or two used to secure the crampon to the person's foot. Otherwise, it seems as though these crampons would fall right off someone's foot.
I have used these in mountaineering scenarios, but I would imagine they proved very useful in the conditions the people of this village lived in. For longer mountain travel I would guess glacier travel and ice travel were almost unavoidable. It makes sense why these tools would be absolutely necessary for survival.
