2,000-year-old Roman shipwreck discovered off the coast of Sicily: Ship full of amphorae brought to light

Expert divers in Italy have found a Roman-era shipwreck off the coast of Sicily that is believed to be more than 2,000 years old. It was reported that the wreck is filled with hundreds of amphorae, which were used in ancient times to transport wine, olive oil, or grain.

The Italian Ministry of Culture announced that the discovered wreck dates back to the 2nd or 1st century B.C. Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli described the find as "one of the most important underwater archaeological discoveries of recent years."

The wreck was located at a depth of approximately 46 meters by police divers who were directed to the area following a report by Giacomo De Mola, a fisherman and free diver who was surveying the seabed near Mazara del Vallo. According to information in the local press, the ship is estimated to be approximately 21 meters long and 6 meters wide.

In a social media post, De Mola stated that he initially saw an object on his scanner that looked like a large rock, but upon approaching it, he saw hundreds of amphorae, saying, "I approached. And my heart stopped. This was not a rock."

Describing the discovery as the "most incredible find of his life," De Mola said that the footage of the wreck also shows marine life living among the amphorae. De Mola said, "The sea never ceases to amaze us. This time, we didn't just find a wreck; we found a piece of our history."

The Italian police unit responsible for the protection of cultural heritage has launched an investigation in the area to determine the nature of the wreck and its cargo. Authorities announced that security measures will be taken to protect the site throughout the research process.

It is known that numerous ancient shipwrecks are located on the Mediterranean seabed. In 2023, a ship carrying hundreds of amphorae dating back to the 1st or 2nd century B.C. was discovered northwest of Rome, and in 2018, a Greek merchant ship more than 2,400 years old was discovered off the coast of Bulgaria.

News Source: 12punto