Ancient Roman shipwreck laden with hundreds of amphorae discovered off Sicily

Off the coast of Sicily, roughly five kilometres from the town of Mazara del Vallo, archaeologists have discovered a shipwreck more than two thousand years old, lying at a depth of 46 metres. Experts from Palermo believe the vessel dates back to the Roman era — likely the 2nd or 1st century BC.

The ship measures around 21 metres in length and six metres in width. Yet the real sensation isn't the hull itself, but its cargo: the vessel was fully loaded with hundreds of amphorae, which researchers believe were used to transport wine. Alongside the amphorae, divers also found two anchors at the site.

Discovered by fishermen

The wreck was found purely by chance, when spearfishers Giacomo De Mola and Igor Bizulli stumbled upon it. "Visibility wasn't great," De Mola recalled of the moment of discovery. "I swam closer, and my heart nearly stopped," he said. "Below me was a vast field, completely covered in amphorae."

One of the most important finds in years

Italy's Minister of Culture, Alessandro Giuli, called the discovery one of the most significant underwater archaeological finds in recent years. "The sea always preserves priceless fragments of our history, and the wreck off Mazara del Vallo tells us about the people, trade routes, and exchange of goods that turned the Mediterranean into a crossroads of civilisations," he said.

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Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz