About Sue Anderson Expertise I have been working in British archaeology for 10 years, specialising in artefact research (particularly human skeletal remains and medieval pottery). I can answer questions about most aspects of British archaeology, although the medieval period is my main field of interest.
Question Recently in a collection of miscellaneous archaeological specimens at a stately home, I noticed one object labelled "Roman Sandal, found in an Irish bog."
I have always heard that the Romans never reached Ireland. However this specimen seems to contradict this view. Did the Romans ever land in Ireland, and if not, how could the sandal have been found buried and preserved in an Irish peat bog?
Answer I'm afraid I am not an expert in either the Roman period or Irish archaeology. However, the following was recently published in British Archaeology magazine:
"The discovery of a possible Roman fort at Drumanagh, 15 miles north of Dublin, suggests the Romans may have invaded Ireland after all. The heavily-defended, 40-acre coastal site has produced 1st and 2nd century Roman coins, but its significance is disputed. Some claim it may have been a Roman bridgehead, used as a base for military campaigns inland, whereas others argue the site was simply a native Celtic settlement with evidence for trade with Roman Britain. The discovery, announced last month, was made a decade ago but kept secret because of a legal dispute over the ownership of finds from the site."
Whether the Romans actually went there or not, there is plenty of evidence for trade taking place, so there is no reason why a sandal should not have ended up there by this means. There is of course also the possibility that the identification of the object is wrong...
