2,100-Year-Old Roman Shipwreck Found Off Sicily, Still Loaded With Cargo

08.13.2026 // 1 MIN READ // Tripwire

Key points

A Roman-era shipwreck carrying hundreds of ancient amphorae was found roughly three nautical miles off Mazara del Vallo, Sicily, at a depth of 46 meters.
Italian authorities date the vessel to the second or first century BCE, making it around 2,100 years old, with most amphorae identified as the Dressel 1A type used to transport wine.
The wreck, about 21 meters long and 6 meters wide with two lead anchor stocks, was reported by private citizens before Italy's Carabinieri Cultural Heritage Protection Unit carried out an underwater inspection.

A Roman merchant ship that sank more than 2,100 years ago has been found off Sicily's southwest coast, its cargo of hundreds of wine amphorae still scattered across the seabed near Mazara del Vallo.

Why it matters

The wreck offers a rare, largely undisturbed snapshot of Mediterranean trade during the late Roman Republic, and its cargo and anchor remains could help researchers trace the vessel's route and origin.

What to watch

Italy's Sicilian Sea Superintendency will carry out further surveys to map the wreck and study how it sank, while officials work to protect the site from fishing damage and illegal artifact removal.

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Sources

Archaeology News Online Magazine