Divers Found a 2,100-Year-Old Roman Shipwreck Covered in Ancient Cargo

For approximately 2,100 years, a Roman merchant ship sat deep beneath the surface of the Mediterranean Sea just off the coast of Sicily. While its wooden hull has long since become part of the sea floor, hundreds of ceramic containers from its cargo holds remained scattered across the wreckage and the surrounding area. Then, divers found it.

The discovery off Mazara del Vallo has been described by Italy's culture minister as one of the most important underwater archaeological discoveries of recent years. More than just an ancient shipwreck, the site could give archaeologists a remarkably detailed look at how goods moved around the Mediterranean during the final centuries before the Roman Empire took shape.

A Diver Thought He Found a Rock

Initially, the Sicily shipwreck discovery didn’t appear exciting. Italian fisherman Giacomo De Mola was exploring the seabed with his friend Igor Bisulli when sonar revealed an unusual object. Initially, De Mola thought he had found a large rock, not an ancient Roman shipwreck. Still, he decided to dive down to take a closer look.

What he found was a huge concentration of ancient ceramic vessels lying on the sea floor. De Mola later described the moment as the most “incredible discovery” of his life. The divers reported the discovery to Italian authorities, who subsequently documented the site with the Carabinieri Cultural Heritage Protection Unit, the Carabinieri Underwater Unit, and the Sicilian Regional Sea Superintendency.

The way that De Mola and Bisulli handled the discovery is important. The Ancient Roman shipwreck wasn’t raised for precious items. Instead, it became an archaeological site requiring documentation, investigation, and protection.

The Ship Sank More Than 2,000 Years Ago

Researchers have already worked to provisionally date the vessel to somewhere between the second and first centuries BC, meaning that it sank somewhere around 2,100 years ago. It lies about three miles off the coast of Mazara del Vallo at a depth of approximately 150 feet.

While it’s hard to determine specific traits about the vessel itself, largely because so much of the wood has been rotted away by the saltwater, archaeologists believe that it was somewhere around 69 feet long and 20 feet wide. Much of the wooden vessel has disappeared, but the distribution of its cargo and surviving components have allowed researchers to begin reconstructing what happened.

As interesting as the ship’s size, cargo, and age are, researchers are also interested in the shipwreck’s location. Sicily occupied an important position along ancient ancient Mediterranean trade routes, connecting different parts of Europe, North Africa, and the wider Mediterranean world. A cargo ship that sank off the coast of Sicily may contain evidence of an ancient commercial network, which could give historians an even more detailed look at ancient commerce and culture.

Hundreds of Amphorae Are Still on the Seafloor

Hundreds of Roman amphorae remain scattered around the wreckage, providing the most visually striking aspect of the discovery. These were large ceramic vessels with handles and relatively narrow necks that were widely used throughout the ancient Mediterranean to transport goods. Most of those found at the site are identified as Dressel 1A amphorae.

Historians are particularly drawn to 1A amphorae because they are strongly associated with wine transport from the era. Their shape, manufacturing characteristics, and distribution may help Roman historians determine where goods were produced and how they traveled.

The Cargo Could Tell a Bigger Story Than the Ship

The discovery of a shipwreck naturally grabs plenty of attention because of the ship itself. However, in this case, the cargo may prove even more valuable to researchers. Ancient Mediterranean trade was extensive, but historians cannot simply open a Roman shipping database and see where individual vessels traveled. They have to reconstruct those networks from surviving evidence, including written records, ports, pottery, coins, ship remains, and cargoes recovered from archaeological sites.

The large concentration of Roman 1A amphorae could help archaeologists and historians better understand the movement of wine, which was one of Rome’s most popular exports during the later states of the Roman Republic. The site may also reveal connections between different regions that aren't immediately obvious from written historical sources.

In addition to the amphorae, divers have also documented a pair of anchors at the Mazara del Vallo Shipwreck. Anchors are particularly useful in underwater archaeology because they can survive long after much of a wooden vessel has disappeared. Their design and construction can help researchers understand the type of ship involved and place it within a broader period of maritime history.

Experts believe that there are more than 3 million undiscovered shipwrecks on the bottom of the world’s oceans, lakes, and rivers. The recent discovery in Sicily removes one of those from the list.

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