Fisherman discovers 2,000-year-old Roman shipwreck off Sicily

A fisherman and free-diver has stumbled upon an ancient Roman shipwreck estimated to be over 2,000 years old off the coast of Sicily, in what Italy's culture minister called "one of the most important underwater archaeological discoveries of recent years."

The vessel was found near Mazara del Vallo, about two miles off the Sicilian coast, laden with hundreds of well-preserved amphorae — tall ceramic jars historically used to transport wine, olive oil, and grain. Italy's Culture Ministry said the wreck dates from the 1st or 2nd century BC.bbc+1

A Fisherman's Find

Giacomo De Mola, the diver who made the initial discovery, recounted noticing what appeared to be a large rock on his sonar while surveying the seabed. He decided to dive down for a closer look.bbc

"I approached it, and my heart stopped. It wasn't a rock," he said. Instead, he found hundreds of amphorae piled on the ocean floor, many remarkably intact after nearly two millennia underwater.breitbart+1

"This is, without a doubt, the most incredible discovery of my life," De Mola said. "It is hard to describe the feeling of being among the first humans in nearly twenty centuries to see that place again."bbc+1

The Wreck

Specialist divers from the Carabinieri Art Squad — the cultural heritage protection arm of Italy's police — were dispatched to the site following De Mola's tip. They located the ship approximately 46 meters beneath the surface. Regional media reports indicate the wreck measures 21 meters in length and 6 meters in width.mirror+1

Video footage shared by De Mola shows eels, snappers, and other marine life inhabiting the jars. "The sea never ceases to amaze us," he wrote. "This time we didn't just find a wreck, we found a piece of our history."bbc

What Comes Next

Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli praised the discovery, and officials said safety measures would be taken to safeguard the site while it undergoes investigation. Archaeologists plan to determine the ship's origin and learn more about its cargo. The underwater site will be closely guarded before a full archaeological investigation begins, aiming to reveal where the vessel came from and who was using it.mirror+1