ROMAN SHIP FROM 1ST OR 2ND CENTURY BC RECOVERED OFF SICILY

Specialist divers have recovered an ancient Roman vessel off the coast of Sicily, believed to date to the 1st or 2nd century BC. The wreck was found approximately 150 feet beneath the surface near Mazara del Vallo in western Sicily, following information provided by local fishermen. The ship, measuring approximately 70 feet long and 20 feet wide, contained hundreds of well-preserved ceramic jars used historically for transporting wine, oil and grain.

Free diver Giacomo De Mola, who discovered the vessel, described it as the most significant find of his career. The jars recovered from the wreck are identified as Dressel 1A amphorae, a type commonly used in Roman trade. Archaeologists reported that the find was in "excellent condition", with the structure and cargo largely intact despite millennia on the seabed.

Italy's culture minister Alessandro Giuli characterised the discovery as "one of the most important underwater archaeological discoveries of recent years". The ministry stated that the Superintendency of the Sea would now document and study the site to establish its archaeological context and implement protective measures. The recovery represents a significant contribution to understanding Roman maritime trade routes and Mediterranean commerce during the classical period.