A few miles from the coast of Mazara del Valloin Sicily, a Roman-era wreck has been identified lying in 46 meters deep: what initially appeared to be a simple anomaly turned out to be a vast accumulation of amphorae, together with two lead anchor stocks and another structure of the same material. The ship, according to an initial assessment, sank between 2nd and 1st centuries BCin the midst of the Roman-Republican age.
The discovery was made during a seabed reconnaissance with sonar technology. The report from proven citizens was forwarded to Superintendency of the Sea of the Sicilian Regionwhich started the first documentation activities, carried out jointly with the Carabinieri Cultural Heritage Protection Unit of Palermo, with the help of the Underwater Carabinieri of Messina and the support of the Carabinieri patrol boat of Trapani. The preliminary analysis of the amphorae has mainly recognized specimens of the type Dressel 1Awidespread type of amphora between the 2nd and 1st century. to. C.which allowed a first dating estimate.
The discovery it has not yet been accompanied by a full archaeological excavation: the available information derives only from the first reconnaissance. Further investigations will therefore be needed to establish more precisely the origin of the loadthe nature of the ship and the circumstances of the shipwreck.
The Ministry of Culture, through the words of Minister Alessandro Giuli, defined the discovery one of the most important recent underwater archaeological discoveries in Italy. The research will continue through new documentation and study campaigns, with the aim of reconstructing the archaeological context of the wreck and guaranteeing its protection.
