A remarkable archaeological find in Drumanagh, Dublin, has shed new light on trade connections between Ireland and the Roman Empire two millennia ago. A charred fig, unearthed during ongoing excavations, represents the oldest example of an exotic fruit ever discovered in Ireland.
This extraordinary discovery is part of a larger collection of artifacts recovered from Drumanagh, including metal and ceramic objects, and other preserved food remnants. The fig's survival is attributed to its charred state.
The image above provides a detailed view of the fig's embedded seeds. (Historic England)
While fig seeds dating back to the 13th century have been found in Irish medieval sites, the Drumanagh fig's age is unprecedented. Professor Merial McClatchie, director of the UCD Ancient Foods research group at UCD School of Archaeology, emphasized the significance of this find, stating, "An actual fruit has never been found in Ireland until now... It is without parallel in Ireland and is by far the oldest example of an exotic fruit found here."
The discovery confirms that figs were among the goods exchanged between the Roman Empire and Ireland, a detail previously unknown to researchers. This trade route facilitated the movement of various foods, enriching the Irish diet with items like spelt bread and olive oil, alongside goods like glass vessels, fine ceramics, brooches, and glass beads. The evidence suggests a link with the Chester/Wirral region of Roman Britain during the initial two centuries of Roman rule.
The excavation team at Drumanagh has uncovered numerous artifacts. (Christine Baker, Fingal County Council)
Professor McClatchie expressed her excitement, remarking, "It’s thrilling to imagine someone enjoying such an exotic food here in Ireland so long ago." The excavations, led by Christine Baker, Heritage officer and archaeologist at Fingal County Council, have provided valuable insights into the lives of those who lived and worked at Drumanagh thousands of years ago.
The image above shows the unearthed charred fig. (Historic England)
This fig discovery follows another recent food-related find in Ireland: a 60-pound slab of bog butter unearthed by a farmer in County Donegal. While bog butter discoveries are not uncommon in Ireland, the sheer size of this find makes it noteworthy. The farmer, Micheal Boyle, stumbled upon the bog butter after noticing a distinct "cheesy" aroma. Archaeologist Paula Harvey suggested this could be one of the largest pieces of bog butter ever found in Ireland.
