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 and figs, drinking wine from glass vessels and fine ceramic cups while wearing brooches and glass beads,” Baker expounded.

Ireland is not a native home to figs. Nor is it a native home to the vegetable most closely associated with Irish culture, the potato.

Figs were first grown and cultivated in eastern Turkey and northern India. Trade routes in the ancient world brought them to the Mediterranean, which is where Romans would first encounter them.

Though figs were known to be part of the Roman diet, and part of the Roman merchant’s trading portfolio, it was never known that the little meaty fruits made their way beyond their own colonial grasp.

“Finds of fig elsewhere in northern Europe are thought to reflect imports from southern Europe, and it is likely that this new Irish discovery traveled a similar distance,” McClatchie said according to The Journal. “It’s thrilling to imagine someone enjoying such an exotic food here in Ireland so long ago.”

The researchers believe that the figs and cereal wheat arrived in Ireland in connection to the Chester/Wirral area of Roman Britain which was colonized during the first 200 years of Roman conquest.

The first Roman colony on the English isle was Colchester, founded in 49 AD. London — then called Londinium — was founded by Rome in 70 AD.