A Roman Figurine from the Boyne Valley

National Museum of Ireland ^ | September 2013 | Rachel O'Byrne

[SunkenCiv]

The object was listed in the George Petrie Catalogue compiled by the antiquarian William Wakeman in 1867. With the work of the Inventory Project, the object was identified in the Museum crypt and matched with its Petrie catalogue record...

The extent of the Roman influence in Ireland has long been debated. The Classical texts imply that due to Ireland's peripheral location, it was not a desirable destination. However the archaeological record has been helping to shed more light on the actual events of this time. Roman objects discovered in Irish contexts exist but they are relatively uncommon, and subsequently the finding of Roman objects generates great interest. The work of the Inventory Project has resulted in an increased identification of Roman material found in Irish contexts...

This figurine was discovered in the River Boyne, near Navan, Co. Meath. The river meanders past important archaeological sites such as Tara, Newgrange and Knowth. The discovery of the object in this area of rich archaeological and mythical heritage suggests significance. In Irish mythology the river was thought to be divine and born of the Goddess Boann. This belief in the divinity of rivers was also held by the Romans. The significance of the Boyne can be further exemplified by the fact that the river was known in the Roman Empire. Ptolemy included the Boyne on a 2nd century map and called it Buvinda. Further to this, Roman material has been found in nearby contexts including a wealth of Roman goods from both Newgrange and Tara, a bronze ladle from Bohermeen Bog, a Roman brooch and pottery from Randalstown, Co. Meath and further Roman pottery at the Boyne estuary. The discoveries of these objects demonstrate a Roman influence in this region.

[SunkenCiv]

We'll never know for certain, but it sure looks like Agricola had it all planned out, and may have intended to finish up the conquest, then move the capital of the province to Chester. Until the arrival of the Great Heathen Army, the greatest of the Anglo-Saxon-Jute kingdoms (the "heptarchy") was Mercia, which seems to echo some Roman and Post-Roman reality on the ground.

[colorado tanker]

The Romans occupied England and Wales for centuries. Of course they traded with and visited Ireland. We know they built at least one fort near Dublin. The intriguing question for me is was that just to protect a trading/diplomatic outpost or at one time did they want to occupy Ireland too? Not much hard evidence to answer that.

[Lurker]

They were Romans. They wanted to conquer everything they saw.

L

[SunkenCiv]

It appears that they found Ireland wasn't particularly troublesome, and was a good trading partner -- actually many trading partners, as there wasn't a single authority, or even the Caig Caigi (five fifths) until the medieval era, and then they kept drinking them up. /rimshot

After the western part of the Roman Empire was sacked and fragmented among barbarian invaders, the British Isles remained on the trade radar (trade-ar?) of the Byzantines, evidenced by Byzantine goods as refuse, discards, grave goods, under burned structures, etc, at Cadbury, other Romano-British sites, including Cornwall.

Time Team S15-E12 From Constantinople to Cornwall, Padstow, North Cornwall

[Bob Ireland]

***I didn’t find what I was looking for, but plan to try this next***

I have no evidence pro or con that my family is Irish - after all, 'Ireland' is an English word - but Celtic music has a haunting effect on me. Enya hypnotizes me.

[SunkenCiv]

Enya, huh. Right family, but...

Clannad - Mha¡ire Bruineall (Live 1978)

[Da_Shrimp]

It's known that the Irish raided Britain as the Romans withdrew - Gildas writes of the 'impudent Irish pirates' in De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae, so it may be that they were raiding abandoned Roman temples and villas.