First Intact Roman Pot Unearthed in Ireland Sheds Light on Ancient Trade Links!
In a remarkable find along Ireland’s east coast, archaeologists have uncovered what is believed to be the first fully intact Roman pot ever discovered on Irish soil. The discovery was made at Drumanagh promontory fort, a key Iron Age site near the village of Loughshinny in north County Dublin.
The pot was unearthed during the latest season of the “Digging Drumanagh” excavation, a project led by Fingal County Council. This coastal headland, spanning 46 acres and marked by three massive earthen banks and ditches, has been the focus of archaeological attention since 2018. Although Ireland was never under Roman rule, Drumanagh has long intrigued historians thanks to earlier finds of Roman artefacts at the site.
What makes this discovery so significant is that it's the first time a Roman pot has been found in one piece in Ireland. Previous digs have turned up fragments, such as amphora necks, but nothing of this completeness.
Photo Credit: Fingal Heritage
The pot was discovered upside down beside a large piece of an amphora, a type of vessel once used to carry wine or oil. Archaeologists will now test soil samples from inside the pot to look for organic residues that might tell us what it once held. It has been sent to the National Museum of Ireland for conservation, cleaning, and closer analysis.
Over the past five years, excavations at Drumanagh have provided compelling evidence of the site’s importance as a hub for cross-cultural exchange during the Iron Age. Finds have included spelt wheat, a common Roman crop, along with Roman glassware, ceramics, bone combs, antler dice, loom weights, spindle whorls, tools, and burnt food remains. One especially exciting discovery was a 2,000-year-old charred fig, the oldest exotic fruit ever found in Ireland.
While some theories in the past have suggested Drumanagh may have served as a Roman military outpost, the prevailing view today is that it functioned as a major trading centre. Christine Baker, Fingal County Council’s heritage officer and lead archaeologist, explained that while there’s no sign of a Roman settlement, the sheer volume and variety of Roman material points to sustained, meaningful contact, especially with Roman Britain, in regions like the Chester–Wirral area, and even further afield to Gaul and Spain.
Drumanagh’s commanding position overlooking the Irish Sea would have made it a prime location for trade. The recent discovery of the Roman pot, alongside many other imported goods, continues to support the theory that this site was a thriving centre for international exchange during the early centuries of the Roman Empire.