Divers in Italy find ancient Roman shipwreck, amphorae off coast of Sicily believed to be 2,100 years old
The wreck is believed to be more than 2,000 years old. Italy's culture minister says it is "one of the most important underwater archaeological" finds in years.
Italian divers have discovered a remarkable 2,100-year-old Roman shipwreck off the coast of Sicily, according to police. The vessel rests approximately three nautical miles away from Mazaro del Vallo in western Sicily, submerged at a depth of 46 meters (150 feet), according to a statement from the Carabinieri. The cultural protection unit of the Italian police called the site a significant underwater archaeological discovery and noted that initial surveys identified it as a Roman shipwreck dating back to between the 2nd and 1st centuries BC.
Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli hailed the find as one of the most important underwater archaeological discoveries in recent years.
The site also houses hundreds of amphorae, which were likely employed for transporting wine. The shipwreck was reportedly discovered after local fishermen tipped off divers, who initially mistook it for a large rock while diving. Diver Giacomo De Mola described the moment of realization on Instagram, stating that he was stunned to find an immense expanse of amphorae lying beneath him for over 2,000 years, accompanied by a Roman ship.
The diver's footage showed the ship, which measures 21 meters long and 6 meters wide, carrying Dressel 1A amphorae, tall cylindrical ceramic jars traditionally used for wine transportation, as well as Lamboglia 2 amphorae from North Africa and a Neo-Punic amphora. De Mola emphasized the extraordinary nature of the find, describing it as an extraordinary testament to the Mediterranean trade routes of over 2,000 years ago.
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