Published on
09/08/2026 - 11:12 GMT+2
Extraordinary discovery off the coast of Sicily. A Roman-era shipwreck, probably dating from between the 2nd and 1st centuries BC, has been located around three miles off the coast of Mazara del Vallo, at a depth of 46 metres.
On the seabed, the Italian Ministry of Culture reports, there are hundreds of amphorae, mostly of the Dressel 1A type, two lead anchor stocks and another structure made of the same material.
The Minister for Culture, Alessandro Giuli, has described it as one of the most important underwater archaeological discoveries of recent years. "I congratulate the Carabinieri, their specialised units and the Sea Superintendency of the Sicilian Region for the expertise and dedication that made this result possible. The sea continues to give back precious fragments of our history and the wreck of Mazara del Vallo tells us about the people, the routes and the trade that made the Mediterranean a crossroads of civilisations. Research will continue to uncover its story and share it with the public," Giuli said.
