Ancient Roman shipwreck and amphorae uncovered off Sicily
Divers off Mazara del Vallo in Sicily discovered a Roman-era shipwreck dating to the 1st or 2nd century B.C., along with hundreds of intact clay jars believed to have held wine, oil or grain.
A Roman shipwreck estimated to be more than 2,000 years old was found about three miles off the coast of Mazara del Vallo, Sicily. Divers reported a concentration of hundreds of amphorae spread over a 6-by-70-foot area of seabed, accompanied by two large lead anchor stocks and a lead pipe.
Fisherman and diver Giacomo de Mola first detected the site with a sonar device that initially appeared to be a rock at a depth of roughly 150 feet. After closer inspection he identified the amphorae, prompting him and fellow diver Igor Bisulli to notify Italian authorities. Archaeologists confirmed the remains belong to a vessel that sank in the first or second century B.C.
Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli called the find “one of the most significant underwater archaeological discoveries of recent years,” adding that it provides insight into the trade routes and cultural exchanges that shaped the Mediterranean.
"The sea continues to bring back precious fragments of our history, and the Mazara del Vallo wreck speaks to us of the people, the routes, and the exchanges that made the Mediterranean a crossroads of civilizations," the minister said.
The discovery adds to knowledge of Roman maritime commerce, with the amphorae likely having transported wine, olive oil or grain.