‘It wasn't a rock’: Roman shipwreck over 2,000 years old discovered off Sicily

A large rock on the seabed turned out to be an ancient Roman shipwreck believed to be more than 2,000 years old. (Credit: @RT_Visual_on_X) What first appeared to be a large rock on the seabed near Mazara del Vallo turned out to be an ancient Roman shipwreck believed to be more than 2,000 years old. The vessel was discovered with hundreds of amphorae, tall ceramic jars used in ancient times to transport goods including wine, olive oil and grain.Italy's culture ministry said the wreck dates to the second or first century BC. It lies around 46 metres below the surface, while local media reports put its dimensions at about 21 metres long and six metres wide. Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli called it “one of the most important underwater archaeological discoveries of recent years”.From seabed scan to historic findAccording to theBBC, specialist police divers found the wreck after a tip-off from fishermen. Fisherman and free-diver Giacomo De Mola said he had been surveying the seabed when his scanner picked up what appeared to be a large rock, prompting him to dive for a closer look.“I get closer. And my heart stops. It wasn't a rock,” De Mola said. Instead, he came across hundreds of ...