Archaeologists discovered an ancient Roman ship on the seabed of Civitavecchia with hundreds of amphorae of the 'Dressel 1 B' type.

The sunken Roman ship contained hundreds of amphorae.

During a survey headed by the Archaeology Section of the Operative Department of the Carabinieri Department for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, archaeologists discovered a sunken ancient Roman ship on the seabed of Civitavecchia, near Rome, Italy.

"The exceptional discovery is an important example of the shipwreck of a Roman ship facing the perils of the sea in an attempt to reach the coast, and bears witness to old maritime trading routes," stated Italy's cultural heritage protection police unit in an interview by the BBC.

The research also revealed a cargo of hundreds of Roman amphorae of the 'Dressel 1 B' type, most of them intact. Experts used an ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) robot system, including sonar and echo sounder, to map the underwater archaeological site. The ROV system also helped researchers identify two metal anchor logs of the ancient Roman ship.

Dressel 1 B type is known for its distinctive thick near-vertical collar rim and more cylindrical shape. It is usually heavier than Dressel 1 C and looks more similar to Dressel 1 A.

The National Superintendence for Underwater Cultural Heritage in Taranto initiated the necessary procedures to survey and safeguard the underwater area. 

M. Enes Gençtürk - arkeolojikhaber