Irish archaeologists discover 2,000-year-old fig of Roman origin

This investigation proved fruitful.Scientists in Ireland have discovered the charred remains of a 2,000-year-old fig that indicates a Roman presence on the isle that was thought to be out of the storied empire’s colonial reach, according to a new report.Drumanagh, Ireland, north of Dublin on the Irish Sea coast was once the site of a fort that connected the emerald isle to England, which 2,000 years ago was in the midst of being civilized by the Roman Empire.However, it was thought that the briny cold sea proved a league too far for the colonizing grip of the Lazians at the turn of the millennium.At Drumanagh, scientists from the University College Dublin dug up a hunk of black material which made an ignominious impression.Later, they would be able to discern seeds embedded in the blob and were eventually able to identify that the mess was in fact a fig.The delicate fruit is the first of its kind found on Éirinn.“Fig seeds dating back to as far back as the 13th century have been recovered from excavations of medieval Dublin, Cork and other towns, “ said Meriel McClatchie, the director of the ancient foods research group at University College Dublin, according to The Journal.“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 without parallel in Ireland and is by far the oldest example of an exotic fruit found here.”A significant amount of spelt wheat, a cereal that was rare in Ireland’s past but was a staple of Roman Britain, was also discovered, according to the researchers.In its totality, the findings indicate a different quality of life on the Irish isle 2,000 years ago than was previously imaginable.“We now know there was an importation, not just of goods but of lifestyle,” says Christine Baker, Heritage Officer and archaeologist at Fingal County Council, and the leader of the fruitful dig.“By these windswept cliffs people were consuming spelt bread, olive oil ...