Hundreds of ancient amphorae found in two separate Mediterranean shipwrecks

Two significant underwater archaeological discoveries in the Mediterranean have shed light on ancient maritime trade routes. In late July, Greek officials from the Culture Ministry's Underwater Antiquities unit located the wreckage of an ancient cargo ship near the island of Andros.

Discovered at a depth of 39 to 44 meters, the ship yielded approximately 600 to 650 commercial pointed-bottom amphorae. These artifacts date back to the late fifth and early fourth centuries BCE. Archaeologists identified at least three distinct types: Mende, Peparethos, and Solokha 2. The presence of Solokha 2 amphorae, linked to a Scythian burial mound in Ukraine, may indicate ancient international trade routes connecting the Black Sea region to Greece.

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one of the most important underwater archaeological discoveries of recent years.

Further enriching our understanding of ancient seafaring, Italy's Culture Ministry announced in early August the discovery of a 2,100-year-old Roman-era shipwreck off the coast of Mazara del Vallo in Sicily. Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli hailed it as "one of the most important underwater archaeological discoveries of recent years."

An underwater fisherman, Giacomo De Mola, first spotted the wreck during a sonar survey. He described the moment of discovery: "Beneath me was an immense field of amphorae. Hundreds of amphorae that had remained on the seabed for more than 2,000 years. A Roman ship asleep in the silence of the Mediterranean." The wreck, found at a depth of about 46 meters, contained hundreds of Dressel 1A type amphorae, along with lead anchor stocks and other ballast materials.

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Visibility was not the best. I moved closer. And my heart stopped. It was not a rock. Beneath me was an immense field of amphorae. Hundreds of amphorae that had remained on the seabed for more than 2,000 years. A Roman ship asleep in the silence of the Mediterranean.