- Location & Depth: Found approximately 3 nautical miles off Mazara del Vallo at a depth of 46 meters (150 feet).
- Dimensions & Age: The vessel spans roughly 21 meters in length and 6 meters in width. Italian authorities date it back to the 2nd or 1st century BC (~2,100 years old).
- Cargo: The ship was found carrying hundreds of intact, well-preserved terracotta jars (amphorae)—specifically Dressel 1A type containers, which were primarily used in Roman Mediterranean maritime trade to transport wine.
- How It Was Found: The site was first detected on a sonar scanner by local free-diver Giacomo De Mola, who spotted what appeared to be a large seabed anomaly. After investigating firsthand, he reported the location to regional maritime cultural authorities, leading specialized Carabinieri underwater police units to secure and document the site.
Italy’s Culture Minister, Alessandro Giuli, hailed the find as one of the most important underwater archaeological discoveries in recent years
