A community archaeology excavation at the Iron Age Drumanagh fort in north Dublin has unearthed the first intact Roman pot ever discovered in Ireland.

Now in it’s fifth year, the Digging Drumanagh project was designed to fill in knowledge gaps about the site, as well as involve the community and raise awareness of it significance in terms of archaeology, history and ecology. These are the first archaeological excavations ever to be undertaken at the site.

Drumanagh promontory fort is a nationally important archaeological site and is of international significance in terms of Ireland’s relationship with the Roman world. The site consists of a headland of c.46 acres defended by a series of earthworks-three closely-spaced earthen banks and ditches.

Although the Roman Empire never encompassed Ireland that did not mean, that Roman influence and goods did not have an impact. Previous archaeological work at Drumanagh has demonstrated that people with access to Roman trading contacts frequented the site. Excavated artifacts include glass beads, gaming pieces, and a bone comb, and now this complete pot.

Find out more at http://fingal.ie/digging-drumanagh or watch this video of this years work.

A wonderful podcast is also available about the site here: Digging Drumanagh | Amplify Archaeology Podcast with Christine Baker