Bottoms up: vast Roman shipwreck filled with ancient wine amphoras discovered near Sicily
“Extraordinary site” could reveal “interesting story about trade routes”, maritime archaeologist David Gibbins says
A remarkable ancient Roman shipwreck, teeming with over 300 ancient wine amphoras, has been unearthed off the coast of Sicily. This astounding find, discovered by divers Giacomo De Mola and Igor Bisulli, is the largest of its kind to be uncovered in recent years. Situated 46 meters underwater and measuring 21m long and 6m wide, the ship dates back to between the second and first centuries BC.
The ship is believed to have transported a significant cargo of Dressel 1A amphoras, ceramic vessels capable of holding around 20 liters of liquid, most likely holding the highly sought-after wine of the era. These amphoras, which are predominantly attributed to Dressel 1A type, suggest that the ship's cargo was not merely wine but also a testament to the intricate trade networks that thrived between ancient Rome and the wider Mediterranean.
This discovery, hailed as one of the most significant underwater archaeological finds in recent years, offers a treasure trove of information about the ancient Mediterranean trade routes, wine production, and Roman commerce.
Written by urgent.news from The Art Newspaper's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
