Divers Discover 2,100-Year-Old Roman Shipwreck Off Sicily

A team of divers has helped identify a Roman shipwreck believed to be around 2,100 years old off the coast of Sicily, with hundreds of ancient amphorae still lying on the seabed.

The wreck was found around three miles (4.8km) off Mazara del Vallo on Sicily’s southwestern coast, at a depth of approximately 46 metres.

The discovery began when Giacomo De Mola, an underwater fisherman and freediver, noticed something unusual on his boat’s scanner while diving in the area. What initially appeared to be a large rock turned out to be the remains of an ancient vessel.

Italian authorities were alerted to the find, and divers and underwater archaeologists subsequently documented the wreck. The vessel has been provisionally dated to between the 2nd and 1st centuries BC.

Hundreds of amphorae have been recorded around the wreck, most of them identified as Dressel 1A types. These large ceramic vessels were commonly used during the period to transport goods, including wine.

The wreck is approximately 21 metres long and six metres wide. Other finds at the site include lead anchor stocks and additional remains associated with the vessel.

The Italian Ministry of Culture has described the discovery as one of the most important underwater archaeological finds in recent years. Further investigation will now focus on establishing more about the ship, its cargo and the ancient trade routes it may have travelled.

The wreck is also being protected while archaeological work and documentation continue.

Source: The Guardian