A Roman shipwreck more than two thousand years old has been found on the seabed off the western coast of Sicily, Italian authorities have announced. Discovered at a depth of 46 metres, roughly five kilometres from the harbour town of Mazara del Vallo — a port city in the province of Trapani — the site contains hundreds of intact ceramic amphorae along with several lead ship components. Italy's Ministry of Culture has described it as one of the most significant underwater archaeological finds in recent years.

The discovery came after a tip from members of the public, following which a joint operation was launched involving the Carabinieri's cultural heritage protection unit based in Palermo, Sicily's maritime heritage service, and specialist divers. Underwater footage shows hundreds of amphorae resting on the seafloor. The vessels are of the Dressel 1A type, a standardised ceramic container widely used during the Roman Republic — the period of Roman governance that preceded the imperial era and ended in 27 BC — primarily to transport and trade wine and olive oil. Divers also recovered two lead anchor stocks and an additional lead structural element from the wreck.

Archaeologists believe the ship dates to the second or first century BC, placing it firmly in the late Republican period. While Roman-era finds are not uncommon along the Italian coastline, a wreck of this scale with so many objects apparently in good condition is considered exceptional. The state of preservation is what makes the site particularly valuable to researchers.

Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli welcomed the find with enthusiasm.