An ancient Roman shipwreck, estimated to be more than 2,000 years old, has been discovered by Italian divers off the coast of Sicily. The vessel was found laden with hundreds of well-preserved containers, known as amphorae, which were used to transport goods such as wine and olive oil.
Italy's Culture Minister, Alessandro Giuli, hailed the find as "one of the most important underwater archaeological discoveries of recent years." The culture ministry states the wreck dates from the second or 1st Century BC.
Specialist police divers from the Carabinieri Art Squad located the ship at a depth of approximately 46m (150ft), after receiving information from fishermen. Local media reports indicate the wreckage measures 21m (69ft) long and 6m (20ft) wide.
Fisherman and free-diver Giacomo De Mola initially stumbled upon the vessel while surveying the seabed near Mazara del Vallo. He described investigating what appeared on his scanner as a large rock, only to discover hundreds of amphorae.
Officials have stated that safety measures will be implemented to protect the site during investigation, as experts work to determine the nature of the wreck and learn more about its cargo.