In 2025, a discovery shook Irish archaeology to its core: the first intact Roman pot found in Ireland.
Unearthed at Drumanagh, Co. Dublin, this 2,000-year-old vessel rewrites Ireland’s ancient ties to the Roman Empire.
Did Romans land here? Are there Roman ruins in Ireland? What’s the oldest artifact in Ireland?
This article dives into the pot’s story, its significance, and FAQs on Ireland’s oldest ruins, human remains, and medieval name.
From Roman coins in Ireland to the biggest event in Irish history, we’ll uncover the Emerald Isle’s ancient secrets.
Brace yourself—this find challenges everything we thought we knew.
A Historic Find: The First Intact Roman Pot
In May 2025, archaeologists at Drumanagh, near Loughshinny, Co. Dublin, made history.
They unearthed an intact Roman pot, a first for Ireland, during the Digging Drumanagh project, as reported by Philip Bromwell for RTÉ.
“We’re breathless with the sheer excitement of it all,” said Christine Baker, Fingal County Council Heritage Officer and Archaeologist.
“This is the first ever intact Roman pot excavated in Ireland,” she added, noting its uniqueness among other finds like amphora fragments.
Found upside-down in a trench, the pot—dating to the first century AD—hints at deep trade ties with Roman Britain.
Now at the National Museum of Ireland for analysis, it’s poised to reveal more about its contents and origins.
Unlike fragmented Roman artifacts in Ireland, this vessel’s pristine condition makes it a national treasure.
The discovery, announced on May 24, 2025, sparked global interest, with posts on X buzzing about its implications.
Drumanagh, a 46-acre Iron Age promontory fort, has long been a focal point for Roman-Irish connections.
Last year’s find of a 2,000-year-old fig at the site already hinted at exotic trade, but this pot solidifies Drumanagh’s role as a trading hub.
Drumanagh: Ireland’s Window to the Roman World
Drumanagh, perched on a headland overlooking the Irish Sea, is no ordinary site.
Defined by three earthen banks and ditches, this Iron Age fort (c. 500 BC–AD 400) was a strategic trade post.
Fingal County Council acquired it in 2016, launching the Digging Drumanagh project to uncover its secrets.
Since 2018, excavations led by Christine Baker have revealed Roman goods: glass beads, bone combs, spelt wheat, olive oil, and now this pot.
“We have evidence of people of Roman background here, maybe overseeing trade,” Baker told RTÉ, ruling out a Roman settlement.
The pot, found alongside an amphora sherd, suggests goods traveled from Roman Spain, Gaul, or Britain.
Previous finds, like Roman brooches and coins, point to contact with the Chester-Wirral area of Roman Britain.
Yet, the Roman Empire never conquered Ireland—its influence arrived through trade, not legions.
The pot’s discovery, celebrated at Drumanagh Day 2024, underscores the site’s international significance.
As Baker said, “By these windswept cliffs, people were consuming figs, spelt bread, and olive oil, living a Roman lifestyle.”
Roman Influence in Ireland: Trade, Not Conquest
The Roman Empire, at its peak 2,000 years ago, ruled Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa—but not Ireland.
Why, then, do we find Roman artifacts in Ireland? The answer lies in trade and cultural exchange.
Drumanagh’s location, visible from Roman Britain, made it a natural trading post.
Archaeologist Barry Raftery argued it was a multicultural hub, hosting Irish, Romano-British, and Gallo-Roman traders.
Some speculate Drumanagh was a bridgehead for Roman campaigns, but most evidence supports a commercial role.
Finds like the 2025 pot and 2024 fig show Ireland imported luxury goods—spices, fruits, and ceramics—via Roman networks.
Local goods, like cattle, hides, and copper from nearby Loughshinny mines, likely flowed back to Britain.
Burials on nearby Lambay Island, with Roman-style brooches, suggest Romanized Britons or traders lived close by.
The pot’s analysis may reveal traces of olive oil or wine, further illuminating Ireland’s Roman connections.
This find challenges the narrative of Ireland as isolated, proving it was plugged into the Roman world.
The Significance of the 2025 Discovery
Why does this Roman pot found in Ireland matter? It’s more than a clay vessel—it’s a time capsule.
Its intact state, unlike fragmented pottery, allows scientists to study its craftsmanship, contents, and origin.
Soil analysis at the National Museum could uncover organic traces, revealing what it held—perhaps wine, oil, or grains.
The pot’s context, found in a trench with other Roman goods, paints a vivid picture of Drumanagh’s trade.
It’s the latest in a string of finds—dice, combs, tools—that show Iron Age Ireland wasn’t just local but global.
The 2024 fig, analyzed by UCD’s Meriel McClatchie, already showed Ireland’s taste for exotic foods.
This pot, described as “unprecedented” by Heritage Daily, adds a tangible artifact to that story.
It also fuels debate about Roman presence—were they just traders, or did they influence Irish culture more deeply?
The Digging Drumanagh project, set to continue in May 2025, invites volunteers to uncover more.
Each find, from figs to pots, redefines Ireland’s place in ancient history.
Ireland’s Ancient Past: Beyond the Roman Pot
The Roman pot is a headline-grabber, but Ireland’s archaeological record is vast.
From Neolithic tombs to Iron Age forts, the island holds clues to humanity’s deep past.
Drumanagh’s finds sit alongside older artifacts, like 5,200-year-old human remains and 9,000-year-old tools.
Are there Roman ruins in Ireland? Not in the Colosseum sense, but sites like Drumanagh show Roman influence.
Roman coins in Ireland, found at Tara and Drumanagh, date to emperors like Trajan (AD 98–117).
The oldest ruins in Ireland, like Newgrange, predate Rome by millennia, built around 3200 BC.
Ireland’s medieval name, Hibernia, was Roman, yet its history was shaped by Gaelic tribes, not emperors.
The biggest event in Irish history? Many point to the Great Famine (1845–1852), but ancient trade shifts, like those at Drumanagh, were pivotal too.
The pot’s discovery invites us to rethink Ireland’s role in a connected ancient world.
It’s a reminder: the past is never fully buried—it’s waiting to be found.
FAQs: Unraveling Ireland’s Ancient Secrets
Frequently Asked Questions About Roman Finds and Ireland’s Past
Are There Roman Ruins in Ireland?
No traditional Roman ruins in Ireland exist, as the Roman Empire never conquered the island. Sites like Drumanagh have Roman artifacts (e.g., the 2025 pot, coins, brooches), indicating trade, not settlement or military forts. Some argue Drumanagh was a trading post, not a ruin.
What Is the Oldest Artifact Found in Ireland?
The oldest artifact in Ireland is a 9,500-year-old flint blade from the Mesolithic period, found at Mount Sandel, Co. Derry. Other contenders include 9,000-year-old deer antler tools from Lough Boora, Co. Offaly, predating the 2025 Roman pot by millennia.
Have Roman Coins Been Found in Ireland?
Yes, Roman coins in Ireland have been found at sites like Drumanagh, Tara, and Newgrange. Coins from emperors Titus (AD 79–81), Trajan (AD 98–117), and Hadrian (AD 117–138) suggest trade with Britain, often via looting or exchange. Illegal metal detecting uncovered some at Drumanagh.
Did the Romans Ever Land in Ireland?
There’s no definitive proof the Romans landed in Ireland with military intent. Scholars like Richard Warner suggest possible invasions, but most evidence, including the 2025 pot, points to trade. Drumanagh’s finds indicate Romans in Ireland were likely traders or Romanized Britons, not soldiers.
What Is the Oldest Ruins in Ireland?
The oldest ruins in Ireland are at Newgrange, a Neolithic passage tomb in Co. Meath, built around 3200 BC. Older than Stonehenge, it
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