Archaeologists recently uncovered a roughly 2,100-year-old shipwreck off the coast of Sicily — along with hundreds of remnants of its ancient cargo.The discovery was announced last month by the Italian Ministry of Culture.The ruins are about three miles off the coast of Mazara del Vallo, a city located about 50 miles southwest of Palermo.The wreck was discovered during a joint inspection by Italian cultural heritage officials and Carabinieri diving units after private citizens reported the site.MYSTERY OF GOLD COIN SHIPWRECK FINALLY UNMASKED AFTER 30 YEARS: 'FANTASTIC CONCLUSION'The Roman-era wreck dates between the second and first centuries B.C., the ministry said.Divers found the site at a depth of about 150 feet.Archaeologists uncovered a roughly 2,100-year-old Roman-era shipwreck off the coast of Sicily, according to Italian officials.
A depiction of a Roman ship from the same era is seen at right.(Ministero della Cultura/Carabinieri; Culture Club/Getty Images)'Hundreds of amphorae, predominantly of the Dressel 1A type, are present on the seabed, along with two lead anchor stocks and another structure made of the same material," officials said in a translated statement.Pictures show hundreds of ancient amphorae clustered across the seabed, many still remarkably intact despite spending more than 2,000 years underwater.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTERAmphorae, ceramic vessels commonly used throughout the ancient world, were often used to carry wine and olive oil, though officials have not said what the vessels found aboard the wreck once contained.The ancient shipwreck was discovered about three miles off the coast of Mazara del Vallo in Sicily.
(Ministero della Cultura/Carabinieri)In a statement, Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli called the find "one of the most important underwater archaeological discoveries of recent years."He added, "The sea continues to return precious fragments of our history to us, and the Mazara del Vallo shipwreck t...