Roman-era shipwreck with thousands of amphorae found off Sicily

Divers from Palermo's cultural heritage police unit confirmed the discovery of a Roman shipwreck about three miles off the coast of Mazara del Vallo, Sicily. The wreck, estimated to date between the 2nd and 1st centuries BC, rests at a depth of roughly 150 feet and measures around 21 metres long and six metres wide. It was found after a local fisherman reported an unusual object on his underwater scanner.

The vessel was laden with hundreds of Dressel 1A amphorae, tall cylindrical jars typically used for transporting wine in antiquity. Italy's Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli described the find as one of the most important recent underwater archaeological discoveries.

The fisherman, Giacomo De Mola, posted on Instagram that he initially thought the object was a rock, but upon closer inspection saw a large field of amphorae. He said he promptly alerted the regional sea superintendent after the sighting.

"It's hard to explain what it feels like to be among the first human beings, after almost twenty centuries, to see that place again," he wrote.

The discovery adds to knowledge of Roman maritime trade routes and cargo handling in the western Mediterranean.