The wreckage of an ancient Roman cargo ship, estimated to be over 2,000 years old, was found off the coast of Italy near the port of Civitavecchia, which is approximately 50 miles (80km) northwest of Rome. The ship believed to date from the 1st or 2nd Century BC, was loaded with numerous Roman terracotta jars known as amphorae. The Carabinieri police's art squad reported that most of the pottery was found to be in excellent condition.
The ship, estimated to be over 20m in length, was recently found resting on a sandy seabed 160m (525ft) below sea level. The police art squad, responsible for safeguarding Italy's priceless cultural heritage, reported that the discovery was made using a remotely operated robot. It remains unclear if specialists will attempt to retrieve the vessel or its valuable contents from the ocean floor. Although the purpose of the Roman jars onboard is unknown, it is common for amphorae to be utilized for transporting commodities such as oil, wine, or fish sauce.
These types of artefacts are frequently discovered across the ancient eastern Mediterranean region. In fact, in 2018, a Greek merchant vessel that had been submerged for over 2,400 years was discovered on its side off the coast of Bulgaria. This remarkable find made it the oldest known intact shipwreck in the world. Additionally, that same year, a multitude of shipwrecks from the Greek, Roman, and Byzantine eras were uncovered in the Aegean Sea.
Photo: BBC
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