Ancient Roman shipwreck discovered off Sicily coast by Italian divers
Specialist police divers found the 2,000-year-old vessel loaded with ancient pottery at a depth of 46 metres.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Italian police divers have discovered an ancient Roman shipwreck dating back over 2,000 years off Sicily.
- The vessel measures 21 metres long and 6 metres wide, resting at a depth of roughly 46 metres.
- The hull was found piled high with hundreds of well-preserved containers used for wine and olive oil.
- The country's culture ministry dates the wreck back to the second or first century BC.
Specialist divers from Italy's law enforcement have uncovered an ancient Roman shipwreck believed to be more than two millennia old off the coast of Sicily. The discovery came to light following a tip-off provided by local fishermen who navigate those waters.
The vessel spans 21 metres in length and 6 metres in width, resting on the seabed at a depth of 46 metres or 150 feet. According to reports from local media outlets, the wreckage is densely packed with hundreds of exceptionally well-preserved storage containers historically used to transport commodities such as wine and olive oil.
Fisherman and free-diver Giacomo De Mola recounted that he stumbled across the historic vessel while surveying the seabed close to Mazara del Vallo. He shared on social media that his attention was drawn after spotting what looked like a massive boulder on his scanner equipment, prompting him to investigate.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
"He wrote on social media that he had decided to dive and investigate after seeing something that appeared to be a large rock on his scanner."
Giacomo De Mola
Officials from the culture ministry stated that the ship originates from the second or first century BC. Authorities confirmed that safety protocols will be implemented to safeguard the site during ongoing investigations, as experts work diligently to analyze the nature of the wreck and its cargo.
The Mediterranean Sea floor continues to serve as an immense underwater museum containing numerous ancient wrecks from the Roman era and beyond. Discoveries of vessels laden with amphorae provide archaeologists with invaluable data regarding ancient maritime trade routes, seafaring capabilities, and the economic networks of the classical world.
Source: BBC World
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