2,000-year-old Roman shipwreck carrying wine jars found off Sicilian coast

An ancient Roman shipwreck, laden with hundreds of preserved wine jars, has been discovered off the coast of Mazara del Vallo in Sicily. The vessel, dating back to the second and first centuries BC, rests 46 meters below the surface.

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The Superintendence of the Sea will conduct further documentation and investigation of the site, aimed at gaining a more complete understanding of the archaeological context and adopting appropriate protection measures.

Italian authorities described the find as a significant underwater archaeological site. The wreck contains hundreds of amphorae, ancient ceramic jars used for transporting wine and other products, along with two anchor stocks and lead structures. The Superintendence of the Sea will conduct further investigations to understand the archaeological context and implement protection measures.

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The sea continues to bring us precious evidence of our history. This wreck tells the story of the men, routes, and exchanges that made the Mediterranean a crossroads of civilizations. Research will now continue to reconstruct its history and restore it to the community.

Alessandro Giuli, Italy's culture minister, lauded the discovery as one of the most important underwater archaeological finds in recent years. He noted that the sea continues to reveal precious evidence of history, stating that the wreck tells the story of the people, trade routes, and cultural exchanges that shaped the Mediterranean into a crossroads of civilizations. Research will continue to reconstruct its history and share it with the community.

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Visibility wasn’t the best.… I got closer. And my heart stopped. Below me was a vast expanse of amphorae. A Roman ship asleep in the silence of the Mediterranean. When I resurface, I say to Igor, ‘You can’t imagine what’s down there…'

Divers who stumbled upon the wreck described the moment of discovery with awe. Giacomo De Mola recounted seeing a vast expanse of amphorae below him, calling it a "Roman ship asleep in the silence of the Mediterranean." He described the feeling of being among the first humans in nearly 20 centuries to witness the site as incredible. Initial analyses reveal an exceptional wreck, with a pile of amphorae measuring approximately 21 meters long, six meters wide, and almost two meters high. The ship's remains and cargo have undergone initial 3D imaging and remain on the seabed.

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This is, without a doubt, the most incredible discovery of my life. It’s hard to describe what it feels like to be among the first humans, in nearly 20 centuries, to see that place again.