Italian divers have discovered an ancient Roman shipwreck off the coast of Sicily, an underwater archaeological find that Italy's Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli described as "one of the most important underwater archaeological discoveries of recent years." The vessel is believed to be more than 2,000 years old.
Specialist police divers located the wreck at a depth of approximately 46 meters (150 feet) following a tip from local fishermen. The wreckage measures 21 meters (69 feet) in length and 6 meters (20 feet) in width. According to the culture ministry, the ship dates back to the second or first Century BC.
Giacomo De Mola, a fisherman and free-diver, reported stumbling upon the historic vessel while surveying the seabed near Mazara del Vallo. After noticing an unusual shape on his scanner, he decided to investigate and discovered hundreds of amphorae—tall ceramic jars used in ancient times for storing goods like wine, olive oil, or grain.
"This is, without a doubt, the most incredible discovery of my life," De Mola stated on social media, sharing a video of the site. "It's hard to describe what it feels like to be among the first humans, in nearly 20 centuries, to see that place again." He also noted the presence of marine life inhabiting the amphorae, remarking, "The sea never ceases to amaze us. This time we didn't just find a wreck, we found a piece of our history."