AN ANCIENT Roman shipwreck thought to be over 2,000-years-old has been discovered off the coast of Sicily.
The vessel, measuring 69ft long and 20ft wide, was found near Mazara del Vallo stocked with hundreds of well-preserved containers.
An ancient roman ship stocked with dozens of containers has been discovered Credit: Carabinieri/AP
The rare find came off the coast of Italy, near Sicily Credit: Carabinieri
Italy‘s Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli hailed the rare find as “one of the most important underwater archaeological discoveries of recent years”.
Police divers found the ship after a tip-off from fisherman at around 150ft deep.
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Experts from the culture ministry believe it dates back to either the 1st or 2nd century BC.
Fisherman and free-diver Giacomo De Mola described the extraordinary moment he stumbled upon the wreckage.
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The containers were once used to store olive oil and wine Credit: AFP
Experts will now work to maintain the wreckage while learning more about its cargo Credit: Carabinieri/AP
“I get closer. And my heart stops. It wasn’t a rock,” Giacomo said.
Instead, he saw hundreds of amphorae – or ceramic jars – used to store precious goods in the Roman days.
“This is, without a doubt, the most incredible discovery of my life,” he said.
“It’s hard to describe what it feels like to be among the first humans, in nearly 20 centuries, to see that place again.”
Giacomo posted footage of the discovery on social media, with jaw-dropping footage showing reams of marine life living among the wreckage.
“The sea never ceases to amaze us,” he said.
“This time we didn’t just find a wreck, we found a piece of history.”
Officials have said that various safety measures will now be taken to safeguard the condition of the vessel.
In the meantime, experts will work to determine the exact nature of the wreck while learning more about its precious cargo.
This comes after a fragment of a Viking ship believed to be up to 1,300 years old was unearthed during sewer works in the Netherlands.
The extraordinary discovery was made when workers excavating the site spotted a huge wooden beam protruding from the ground.
Experts from Stichting Beheer Vikingschip and Museum Dorestad were called in to examine the mysterious timber.
Shipbuilding expert Kees Sterrenburg said its shape, notches and craftsmanship suggest it could have formed part of a ship’s frame.
The beam measures around 3.2 metres long and 30cm thick, although experts believe it may originally have been even larger.
Based on its location and fragments of pottery found nearby, researchers believe the timber could date back to the Carolingian period, between around 700 and 800 AD.
The beam has since been carefully wrapped and removed from the site to protect it from damage caused by drying out.
