A Roman shipwreck carrying hundreds of ancient amphorae has been discovered in waters off the coast of Sicily, near the town of Mazara del Vallo, Italian officials announced.
The wreck was located about three miles from shore, resting at a depth of 46 meters (150 ft). Officials believe the ship dates back to between the second and first century B.C. Hundreds of amphorae are scattered across the seabed, most of them belonging to the Dressel 1A type. Two lead anchor stocks and another structure made from the same material were also found at the site.
Italy’s Culture Minister, Alessandro Giuli, described the discovery as one of the most important underwater archaeological finds in recent years. He praised the Carabinieri police force, its specialized units, and Sicily’s Soprintendenza del Mare, the regional authority responsible for maritime heritage, for the expertise and dedication that made the discovery possible.
Roman shipwreck site in Sicily reveals hundreds of amphorae
Giuli said the sea continues to give back valuable fragments of history, and that the wreck near Mazara del Vallo speaks to the people, trade routes, and exchanges that turned the Mediterranean into a crossroads of civilizations.
He added that research into the site would continue, with the goal of uncovering its full history and eventually sharing it with the public.
The shipwreck was found during a joint survey carried out by the Carabinieri’s Cultural Heritage Protection unit from Palermo, the Soprintendenza del Mare, and the Carabinieri’s underwater unit from Messina.
A Carabinieri patrol boat from Trapani took part in the operation, providing support at sea. The survey was launched after private citizens first reported the site to authorities.
Officials said the Soprintendenza del Mare will now carry out further documentation and study of the Roman shipwreck, working to reconstruct the archaeological context surrounding the amphorae found off the coast of Sicily. The agency also plans to adopt measures to protect the site.
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