Fisherman Finds 2,000-Year-Old Roman Shipwreck Packed With Hundreds of Amphorae
Learn about a Roman-era shipwreck discovered off the coast of Sicily by a fisherman who found hundreds of ancient jars while diving.
Giacomo De Mola, a spearfishing world champion, discovered a Roman shipwreck near the coast of Sicily while training off Mazara del Vallo. Initially, he thought the scattered objects were stones, but upon closer inspection, he realized they were amphorae, jars dating back to the ancient Mediterranean world. The nearly 70-foot-long wreckage site contained hundreds of such jars, two lead anchor stocks, and another lead structure.
Experts believe the shipwreck occurred around 2,000 years ago, sometime between the 2nd and 1st centuries B.C.E. The find, described by Italy’s Minister of Culture, Alessandro Giuli, is one of the most significant underwater archaeological discoveries in recent years. The ship's wooden remains are likely preserved under sand and mud, while the amphorae were buried under silt for centuries and may have been exposed by currents.
Further investigations will shed light on the site's archaeological context and protect it for future generations.
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