Science & Space
Roman shipwreck with hundreds of amphorae found off Sicily
Italian divers have found the 2,100-year-old wreck of a Roman ship off Sicily, with hundreds of well-preserved amphorae likely used to carry wine.
Divers from the cultural heritage protection arm of Palermo's police said they located the ship on Aug. 8 about three miles off Mazara del Vallo, at a depth of about 46 metres, after a tip-off from fishermen.
The wreck is thought to date to between the 2nd and 1st centuries BC. It was mostly carrying Dressel 1A amphorae, tall cylindrical containers mainly used for transporting wine.
Italy's Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli called it “one of the most important underwater archaeological discoveries of recent years”. Local media reported the ship was about 21 metres long and six metres wide.
Underwater fishermen Giacomo De Mola and Igor Bisulli described finding the wreck. De Mola wrote on Instagram that he saw “a vast expanse of amphorae” below him despite poor visibility.
Uncertainty notes
The wreck's date is an estimate between the 2nd and 1st centuries BC.
The amphorae were likely used to transport wine, but the supplied information did not confirm their contents.
The ship's reported dimensions came from local media.
Source
AFP news report published on .