Ancient Roman shipwreck unearthed off Sicily coast
Italian divers have located a Roman cargo ship, more than two millennia old, wrecked 46 metres below the surface north‑west of Mazara del Vallo. The vessel is 21 metres long and 6 metres wide, and it was found laden with hundreds of well‑preserved amphorae – tall ceramic jars used to store wine, olive oil and grain.
Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli hailed the wreck as "one of the most important underwater archaeological discoveries of recent years". The captain of the dive, Giacomo De Mola, recalled stumbling upon the deep‑sea treasure when scanning the seabed for a rock, only to be met with a sea of amphorae and countless marine life.
"I get closer. And my heart stops. It wasn’t a rock," said Giacomo. "This is, without a doubt, the most incredible discovery of my life."
Specialist divers from the Carabinieri Art Squad are now safeguarding the site while experts work to determine the wreck’s exact nature and understand its cargo. The Mediterranean seabed is believed to host other Roman ships, echoing a 2023 find northwest of Rome and a 2023 discovery off the Bulgarian coast.
Greek merchants, Roman traders and the modern day protectors all converge in this submerged slice of history, reminding us how the oceans have carried humanity’s past and present in equal measure.
