An ancient shipwreck carrying more than 300 amphorae has been identified off the Ionian coast of Calabria, offering rare evidence of the maritime trade that connected the Greek colonies of Magna Graecia in southern Italy more than 2,400 years ago.
The wreck was discovered off Monasterace, in the province of Reggio Calabria, during seabed surveys for an offshore wind project. Acciona Energía announced the discovery, saying the vessel dates to between the fifth and fourth centuries B.C.
Archaeologists made the find in coordination with Italy’s Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria and the Province of Vibo Valentia.
First identified in 2023, the shipwreck was later presented at the 8th National Conference on Underwater Archaeology at the Archaeological Park of Campi Flegrei. Italian cultural authorities have described it as one of the Mediterranean’s most significant recent underwater archaeological discoveries.
Ship linked Greek cities across southern Italy
The vessel’s cargo provides the first clues to its role. It carried more than 300 amphorae, the ceramic containers widely used to transport goods such as wine and olive oil across the ancient Mediterranean. Their shapes indicate they were produced at different centers in Magna Graecia and Sicily, suggesting the ship sailed within a regional trading network linking Greek settlements across southern Italy.
Magna Graecia, or “Greater Greece,” was the name given to the Greek colonies founded in southern Italy and Sicily from the eighth century B.C. onward. By the Classical period, cities such as Kroton, Sybaris, Taras, Syracuse and Kaulon had become major centers of commerce, agriculture and cultural exchange.
The wreck lies just offshore from the ancient Greek city of Kaulon, founded by Achaean settlers before 700 B.C. Researchers say its location suggests the vessel may have traded with ports that connected the Greek communities of southern Italy.
Although Kaulon was destroyed by Dionysius I of Syracuse in 388 B.C., there is no evidence linking that event to the sinking of the ship.
Cargo may reveal ancient wine trade
Researchers hope the amphorae will provide new evidence about commerce along the Ionian coast. Their clay composition, maker’s marks and any preserved organic residues could identify where they were produced and whether they carried wine, olive oil or other agricultural products.
Much of the cargo remains in its original position on the seabed. That gives archaeologists a rare opportunity to examine how the vessel was loaded, how its cargo shifted as it sank and how the site changed over time.
Photogrammetric surveys carried out in 2025 showed the amphorae are divided into two clusters about 10 meters (33 feet) apart. Researchers believe the separation was likely caused by modern trawling rather than the ancient shipwreck itself.
Recovery project begins
Because the site faces a risk of further damage, Italy’s Ministry of Culture is supporting a project to document, recover and conserve the cargo. Before any artifacts are raised, researchers will complete detailed photogrammetric surveys, record each amphora and assess the condition of the ceramics to determine the safest recovery methods.
Acciona Energía said it adjusted the preliminary design of the offshore wind project to avoid the archaeological site and other environmentally sensitive areas. The discovery highlights how modern infrastructure projects can also uncover and protect important archaeological remains.
More than 2,400 years after the vessel sank, the shipwreck is providing new evidence of the maritime world that connected the Greek cities of Magna Graecia. Researchers hope the cargo will help reconstruct the commercial networks that shaped the ancient Mediterranean.
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