Afghanistan, Aug. 10 -- Italian authorities have discovered an ancient Roman-era shipwreck carrying hundreds of ceramic amphorae off the coast of Sicily, in a find officials say could shed new light on maritime trade in the Mediterranean more than 2,000 years ago.
The Carabinieri's Cultural Heritage Protection Unit said the wreck was located about three nautical miles (4.8 kilometres) off Mazara del Vallo in western Sicily, at a depth of 46 metres. Authorities have provisionally dated the vessel to between the second and first centuries BC.
Hundreds of amphorae were found scattered across the seabed, with most identified as Dressel 1A vessels. These large ceramic containers were widely used in the ancient Mediterranean to transport commod...