Ancient 2,000-year-old Roman shipwreck found off coast of Italy

The wreckage of an past Roman vessel from much than 2,000 years agone has been recovered disconnected the seashore of Italy.

The cargo vessel was recovered disconnected the larboard of Civitavecchia, astir 50 miles (80km) north-west of Rome.

It dates from astir the 1st oregon 2nd Century BC and was recovered laden with hundreds of amphorae - a benignant of Roman terracotta jar.

The pottery was recovered mostly intact, the Carabinieri police's creation squad said successful a statement.

The ship, estimated to beryllium much than 20m long, was discovered connected a sandy seabed 160m (525ft) beneath oversea level.

"The exceptional find is an important illustration of the shipwreck of a Roman vessel facing the perils of the oversea successful an effort to scope the coast, and bears witnesser to aged maritime trading routes," the Carabinieri said.

The constabulary creation squad - which is successful complaint of protecting Italy's priceless taste practice - said the relic was recovered and filmed utilizing a remotely operated robot.

They did not accidental whether experts volition present effort and retrieve it, oregon its precious cargo, from the oversea floor.

It is not known what the Roman jars connected committee would person been utilized for, though typically amphorae were utilized to transport goods, specified arsenic oil, vino oregon food sauce. Such artefacts are wide recovered passim the past eastbound Mediterranean world.

The find of wrecked ships is not antithetic - determination are said to beryllium thousands dotted astir the Mediterranean.