Additional Coverage:
Intact Roman Pot Found in Ireland—A First!
Dublin archaeologists are buzzing after unearthing a rare, intact Roman pot at Drumanagh, near Loughshinny, County Dublin. This unprecedented find marks the first complete Roman pot ever excavated in Ireland, adding another layer to the mystery surrounding Roman influence on the Emerald Isle.
“We’re breathless with the sheer excitement of it all,” Fingal County Council Heritage Officer and Archaeologist Christine Baker told RTÉ. While other Roman artifacts, like amphora fragments, have been discovered at the site, a complete pot is a game-changer.
Although the Roman Empire’s reach extended across much of Europe, Ireland remained largely outside its direct control. The presence of Roman artifacts suggests some level of interaction, possibly trade connections, between Ireland and Roman Britain or even continental Europe.
“From previous digs, we have evidence of individuals with Roman connections, perhaps overseeing trade,” Baker explained. While there’s no evidence of a Roman settlement at Drumanagh, the finds point to “deep contact with Roman Britain and Roman Europe.”
The Drumanagh promontory fort, first excavated in 2018, continues to be a vital resource for understanding Ireland’s Iron Age. Theories about the fort’s purpose range from a Roman military outpost to a bustling trade center. Previous discoveries of Roman-British style brooches and metalware, along with last year’s discovery of a 2,000-year-old fig—the oldest exotic fruit found in Ireland—support the theory of a vibrant trade network.
The newly discovered pot has been transferred to the National Museum of Ireland for further study and conservation. This exciting discovery comes on the heels of other significant finds in Ireland’s southeast, including artifacts in County Wicklow that have challenged existing theories about the region’s Neolithic and Bronze Age history.