First Roman pot discovered in north Dublin archaeological dig

In a remarkable breakthrough for Irish archaeology, the first-ever intact Roman-era pot has been discovered during an excavation in north County Dublin. The rare find, dated to around the first century AD, was unearthed at a dig site in Ballymakenny, near Drogheda, and is offering fresh insights into early contact between Ireland and the Roman world.

The ceramic vessel was discovered by archaeologists from the Centre for Irish Cultural Heritage at Maynooth University, working in partnership with the Irish Archaeology Field School. The team had been excavating a complex site linked to early settlement activity when they made the discovery.

Described as a “textbook example” of a Roman pot, the vessel was found buried intact, with its surface and shape exceptionally well-preserved. 

Fingal County Council Heritage Officer and Archaeologist Christine Baker, told RTE: "We’re breathless with the sheer excitement of it all.

"This is the first ever intact Roman pot excavated in Ireland.

"We have found five or six different types of Roman artefacts here, including the neck of an amphora.

"But nobody has ever seen a pot like this before in Ireland."

Although fragments of Roman material have previously been found in Ireland, most notably in burials and along the east coast, complete Roman pottery is virtually unheard of on the island. 

The pot was discovered alongside other notable items, including bone combs, loom weights, and a Roman-style dice, suggesting the area may have been a significant hub of cross-cultural contact during the first millennium. These discoveries are part of a broader excavation in a rural landscape that has yielded evidence of human activity from the Neolithic to the post-medieval period, the Irish Independent reports.

Dr Roseanne Schot, an archaeologist from Maynooth University, emphasized the significance of the context in which the pot was found. “It’s not just the object, but the fact that it was unearthed in its original setting—undisturbed and intact—that gives us a unique window into life in early Ireland,” she said.

The discovery challenges long-standing assumptions about the extent of Roman influence in Ireland, which was never officially part of the Roman Empire. Experts now believe such artifacts suggest more sustained or meaningful contact with the Roman world than previously thought.

The Ballymakenny dig is ongoing, and the pot will soon be analyzed further to determine its precise origin and how it came to be buried in north Dublin over 2,000 years ago.