An underwater shipwreck described as "extraordinary" has been discovered off the coast of Sicily. A Roman-era vessel, probably dating from between the 2nd and 1st centuries BC, has been found around three miles off the coast of Mazara del Vallo, at a depth of 46 metres.
On the seabed, the Italian Ministry of Culture reports, there are hundreds of amphorae - double handled vases - mostly of the Dressel 1A type, two lead anchor stocks and another structure made of the same material.
Italy's Minister for Culture, Alessandro Giuli, said the find is one of the most important underwater archaeological discoveries of recent years. "I congratulate the Carabinieri, their specialised units and the Sea Superintendency of the Sicilian Region for the expertise and dedication that made this result possible.
"The sea continues to give back precious fragments of our history and the wreck of Mazara del Vallo tells us about the people, the routes and the trade that made the Mediterranean a crossroads of civilisations. Research will continue to uncover its story and share it with the public," added Giuli.
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The discovery was made during a joint inspection carried out by the Carabinieri Cultural Heritage Protection Unit (TPC) in Palermo, the Sea Superintendency of the Sicilian Region and the Carabinieri Underwater Unit in Messina, with support from the Carabinieri patrol boat in Trapani, following a tip-off from private citizens.
The site will now be the focus of further documentation and research by the Sea Superintendency, aimed at reconstructing the archaeological context and putting in place the necessary protection measures.
This news follows another major discovery off Sicily in recent days. Last week, scientists working off the island of Panarea, in the Aeolian archipelago identified a large crater hidden beneath the sea and new hydrothermal vents. The find will allow scientists to deepen their study of the island's submarine volcanic system and raises new questions about its evolution.
The structure lies about one nautical mile north-east of Panarea, at a depth of between 60 and 80 metres. The crater is of impressive size: about 100 metres long and 60 metres wide. Next to this formation, new hydrothermal vents have also been identified, characterised by gas emissions from the seabed.
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