Came across this when digging a trench for a cable duct. Not sure at what depth it was at but spotted it amongst the spoil afterwards. Location was previously a field at the back of an old thatched house. Seems to be made of clay with the one opening on top, flat bottom and geometric pattern around the sides and bottom. It does have two smaller holes on the edge of the wider part.
Any ideas what it could be?
https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1t6muye
Posted by flynnskii
29 Comments
Looks legit, worth doing some research
I’m intrigued! That looks like something alright!
I would get onto the archeological department of your nearest college/university. Might be something just cool but not that significant that you might keep or give to county museum, or might be really significant and you get your name tagged to it as a valuable donation.
Either way, like finding a weird lump on your body – the best thing to do is get an expert to tell you what you’re looking at.
[ty](https://ebay.us/m/mawSyN)
Fishing weight perhaps
Ashtray
Looks like it could be a clay lamp or maybe a storage pot for herbs/salt?Those holes are most likely for suspending. it could be medieval, Bronze or Iron Age! Need expert eyes on it asap
Report it to the National Museum of Ireland or Monuments Service, think you need to report it within a week of finding something significant. Great find!!
Make sure to keep some cats around for protection
Nice find OP.
Looks to be in very good condition.
Looks like an oil lamp. It could be a historical artifact or a TY art project discarded..who knows.. definitely contact an expert
Chat GPT tells me its an oil burning lamp! From the 9th century!
2 washing up liquid dispensing scrubby yokes. Check you out moneybags.
Some of the geometric designs remind me of this Iron Age pot from England – [https://learn.folkestonemuseum.co.uk/questions/stone-age-to-iron-age-activity-2-prehistoric-art-and-design-make-a-beaker-pot/](https://learn.folkestonemuseum.co.uk/questions/stone-age-to-iron-age-activity-2-prehistoric-art-and-design-make-a-beaker-pot/)
Yours may well turn out to be far more recent, but I would get it checked out for sure!
You can contact the [National Museum of Ireland](https://www.museum.ie/en-IE/Collections-Research/Irish-Antiquities-Division-Collections/Found-an-artefact-Heres-what-to-do) and they will be able to tell you if it is of archaeological or historical significance. They used to give a finders fee if something interesting was found!
Looks cool. Glad you have it. It would be my cool ashtray.
I’d get high and tell everybody it’s from the neoliberal Stone Age
Class, definitely get it checked out hopefully they let you keep it or give you some credit for finding it!
Would you reckon you were more than 6ft down?
For the tealight
I discussed it with my AI pal, and his assessment breakdown is:
45% — genuinely old utilitarian pottery (medieval or earlier style)
30% — 18th/19th century rural folk pottery
15% — object with a specific function like lamp/incense burner
10% — modern handmade item
Where in Ireland was this? Would be interesting to narrow it down
Try r/archeology
It’s exciting to think it COULD be very old, best of luck
It does look more than a bit like this:
[National Museum of Ireland Bronze Age Ribbed Bowl](https://www.museum.ie/en-IE/Collections-Research/Collection/Documentation-Discoveries/Artefact/Bronze-Age-Ribbed-Bowl/7e6a66f6-d587-45f1-8df7-20bf0f190285)
“Bronze Age ribbed bowl with incised decoration including lozenge motif on the body and cruciform design on base.”
Could be a Bronze Age bowl. Could be a TY project. I’m hoping for the former. Keep us updated OP!
That’s ancient. Contact the National Museum of Archaeology. Friend of mine has fragments of a similar one he found ploughing and that was dated to bronze age.
The ashtray i made my mam in primary school
Archaeologist here. Looks like a legit artifcat. Please do contact a local museum asap. 🙂
Nice find. Keep us updated please 🙏🏻
Please report it!
To make a report, please contact: The Duty Officer, Irish Antiquities Division, National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2; telephone +353 (0)1 6777444; alternatively use the National Museum of Ireland’s [Contact Us form](https://www.museum.ie/en-IE/Contact) on its website.
Keep us updated OP!
It’s a Diwali Diya (lamp) I’m guessing
Bronze age bowl first Bronze Age Frosties
Defo get it checked out
