Archaeology breakthrough as 2,600-year-old ancient shipwreck discovered off Italian island

An ancient Greek shipwreck was uncovered off the coast of the Italian island of Sicily. (Image: University of Udine)

An incredible discovery, considered to be one of the most significant finds in the Mediterranean in recent years, has been made. An ancient Greek shipwreck was uncovered just 20 feet below the surface off the coast of the picturesque beach of Santa Maria del Focallo in Ispica, Sicily.

The remarkably well-preserved wreck is thought to date back to the 6th or 5th century BC and was first uncovered in 2024 during a multi-phase underwater excavation project, with new discoveries also made this year. During the five-week excavation conducted between May and June 2025, archaeologists uncovered an unusually intact structure and retrieved a mast - a component rarely found in preserved ancient wrecks - alongside black-figure pottery, a section of rope in excellent condition and even a perfume vessel, inscribed with the Greek word "Nau" meaning "ship". 

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The excavation is being led by the University of Udine’s Department of Humanities and Cultural Heritage, in partnership with the Sicilian Region’s Superintendency of the Sea. The effort is part of the Kaukana Project, a long-term scientific initiative launched in 2017 by the late Sebastiano Tusa, Superintendent of the Sea, and Massimo Capulli, a professor at the University of Udine.

The project aims to reconstruct the evolution of the coastal and submerged landscape of the province of Ragusa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in southeastern Sicily, focusing on historical remains between the ancient cities of Ispica, Kaukana, and Kamarina.

“With a careful approach, we managed to document new and significant parts of the wreck, such as the mast - which is extremely rare to find preserved,” said Professor Capulli.

The project aims to reconstruct the evolution of the coastal and submerged landscape of the province of Ragusa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in southeastern Sicily. (Image: Getty)

The team extended the excavation by nearly seven feet, and, using a hydraulic suction dredge, cleared the remaining sediment and exposed key elements, including the keelson and one of the ship’s wheels. Much of the wreck had been buried beneath a layer of sand and stone before its discovery last year.

Researchers recorded the site using direct measurements and photogrammetry, creating a 3D model of the wreck. The reconstruction is hoped to provide valuable insights into ancient Greek shipbuilding technology, offering scholars a rare opportunity to examine construction methods from the Archaic period in Greece, a significant era of transition and development which lasted from 800 BC to 480 BC.

In addition to the primary site, nearby waters were surveyed for future excavations and several potential sites were identified thanks to the reports by local diver Antonino Giunta, who previously alerted authorities to significant underwater finds in the region.

This latest discovery comes after the uncovering of a "geometric miracle" tunnel beneath a temple in an Egyptian city. The tunnel, which lies beneath the temple of Taposiris Magna, was cut through over 4,200 feet of sandstone. It is hoped that it could lead to Cleopatra's lost tomb.