Roman Shipwreck With Hundreds of Amphorae Found Off Sicily
Get the Health newsletter
Daily health & science — research, biotech, public health, the studies worth knowing. Free.
- Italy's Carabinieri cultural protection unit discovered the wreck of a Roman ship off Sicily and divers recovered hundreds of amphorae and parts of anchors from inside the vessel.
- The wreck was located approximately 3 miles off the coast of Mazara del Vallo, a Sicilian port town.
- Sicily was colonised by the ancient Greeks from around the eighth century BC and conquered by Rome around 240 BC, serving as a key Mediterranean trade hub.
- The amphorae and anchors found aboard the vessel are consistent with Sicily's documented role as a centre of ancient maritime commerce.
Why it matters: Carabinieri recovery of a Roman-era shipwreck laden with amphorae near Mazara del Vallo — a historically important Sicilian trade zone — adds fresh physical evidence to the archaeological record of ancient Mediterranean shipping and gives Italy's cultural protection unit a high-profile find to conserve and study.
Ask SkimNews
