Divers in Sicily have discovered a time capsule of ancient Mediterranean trade lying 150 feet below the surface. Acting on a tip from fishermen, Italy’s cultural heritage police located a Roman-era shipwreck some three miles off the island’s western coast, its cargo undisturbed for more than 2,000 years. The Guardian reports that inside were about 500 amphorae, clay jars with handles on each side that were likely used to store wine. As diver Giacomo De Mola recounts, “Visibility wasn’t the best … I got closer. And my heart stopped. Below me was a vast expanse of amphorae.”
Italy’s culture minister called it “one of the most significant underwater archaeological discoveries of recent years.” NBC News reports authorities are keeping the precise location under wraps. Archaeologists will continue to work at the site to more precisely date the vessel, which is thought to be from the first or second century BC, as well as to evaluate the condition of the surviving material and where it might have been headed.