The recent discovery of an ancient charred fig fruit on Drumanagh headland offers a glimpse into the Irish diet two millennia ago and reveals ancient trade links with the Roman Empire.
When carrying out an excavation on Drumanagh headland near the village of Loughshinny in north Dublin, archaeologists made a most remarkable discovery: a 2,000-year-old charred fig fruit. As Ireland’s oldest exotic fruit, this little fig offers valuable insights into the island’s ancient trading links with the Roman world and provides clues about the Irish Iron Age diet.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
This large charred fragment of fig is “without parallel in Ireland”, said Associate Professor Meriel McClatchie, Director of the Ancient Foods Research Group at UCD School of Archaeology. Although fig seeds dating back to the 13th century have been uncovered in excavations of medieval Dublin, Cork and other towns, a whole intact fruit has never before been found. McClatchie explains:
“An actual fruit has never been found in Ireland until now, but what is most important about the Drumanagh fig is its antiquity. It … is by far the oldest example of an exotic fruit found here.”
Sign up to our newsletter
Excavations at Drumanagh
Fingal County Council took ownership of the 46-acre site on Drumanagh headland in 2016. The site consists of a promontory fort defined by a series of earthworks – three closely-spaced earthen banks and ditches. Promontory forts are generally associated with the Iron Age (c.500 BC–AD 400). As part of the Digging Drumanagh project, the local authority has overseen four seasons of excavation at the site in 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2023. The team comprises a mix of professional archaeologists and volunteers from the local community and beyond.
>>> READ MORE: Recent archaeological discoveries along the M28 route in Cork
The ongoing excavations are directed by Christine Baker, Heritage Officer and Archaeologist at Fingal County Council. These archaeological investigations have revealed extensive evidence of craft and domestic activities, including metal, glass and ceramic objects and food items that originated in Roman Spain, Gaul and Britain, as well as objects that reflect local activities.
A F F I L I A T E A D V E R T I S E M E N T
The material evidence unearthed in and around the promontory fort on Drumanagh’s headland indicates that it was an important trading post with the Roman Empire during the Iron Age.
Life on the edge of the Roman Empire
At its height, the Roman Empire controlled much of Europe, along with parts of Western Asia and North Africa. Its vast network of trade routes enabled the spread of Roman cuisine and food culture, with spices, herbs, nuts and exotic fruits like grapes, dates and figs travelling great distances.
Although Ireland lay beyond the empire’s reach, Drumanagh’s strategic location on a headland overlooking the Irish Sea made it an important trading post. As Associate Professor McClatchie explains, while figs were traded throughout the empire, “we did not know until now that they made it all the way to Ireland”.
“Finds of fig elsewhere in northern Europe are thought to reflect imports from southern Europe, and it is likely that this new Irish discovery travelled a similar distance. It’s thrilling to imagine someone enjoying such an exotic food here in Ireland so long ago.”
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
The excavations at Drumanagh give a clear picture of what was eaten there almost 2,000 years ago. In addition to the fig, the dig has produced remnants of olive oil and substantial quantities of spelt wheat – a grain that was common in Roman Britain but rare in Ireland. These grains survived because they were burned, which enabled their preservation.
Drumanagh’s archaeological significance continues to grow with each excavation season. “Our excavations have revealed more of the story of those living and working at Drumanagh”, said Christine Baker.
“We now know there was an importation, not just of goods but of lifestyle. By these windswept cliffs, people were consuming spelt bread, olive oil and figs, drinking from glass vessels and fine ceramic cups while wearing brooches and glass beads. The evidence so far points to a connection with [the] Chester/Wirral area of Roman Britain during the first 200 years of the Roman conquest.”
The archaeological investigations at Drumanagh have shone a light on Ireland’s ancient trading networks and have redefined our understanding of its early adoption of Roman cultural practices.
Sharing the story of Drumanagh
The findings from the excavations at Drumanagh, along with the results of the post-excavation analysis to date, will be presented at Drumanagh Day 2024, a seminar scheduled for Saturday, 16 November, in Millbank Theatre in Rush, Co. Dublin. This event will give the public a chance to learn more about this extraordinary site.
At Drumanagh Day 2024, speakers will include Christine Baker, who will provide an overview of the excavations at Drumanagh; Alexandra Croom, who will discuss Roman pottery finds from Drumanagh; Siobhan Duffy, who will cover animal bone and antler analysis; Dr Conor Brady, who will put the flint finds in context; and Professor Meriel McClatchie, who will present her analysis of the seeds found at Drumanagh and how this relates to our understanding of production and consumption. The day will conclude with a discussion led by Gabriel Cooney, Emeritus Professor of Celtic Archaeology at UCD and a weather-dependent tour of the site with Christine Baker. Reserve your spot here.
For those who can’t attend the event, you can read more about the site in the Drumanagh Promontory Fort Conservation Study & Management Plan 2018-2023.
Advertising Disclaimer: Irish Heritage News is an affiliate of FindMyPast – we earn commissions from qualifying purchases. This does not affect the amount you pay for your purchase.
READ NOW
➤ Ulster Historical Foundation rolls out new expert-led online Irish genealogy course
➤ New Maud Gonne Society to launch in Dublin with plans to erect a statue in the city centre
➤ 2,000-year-old Bellaghy bog body discovered during excavations in Derry
➤ Bronze Age horns: Ireland’s oldest musical instruments
➤ Roscommon’s forgotten cemetery: excavation results at Ranelagh revealed
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
