Roman wreck carrying hundreds of amphorae found off Sicily

The wreck, dubbed by Italy's Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli as "one of the most important underwater archaeological discoveries of recent years", was found some three miles off the coast of Mazara del Vallo.

Divers from the cultural heritage protection arm of Palermo's police said Saturday they had located the ship -- thought to date to between the 2nd and 1st centuries BC -- some 46 metres (150 feet) down, after a tip-off from fishermen.

Underwater fishermen Giacomo De Mola and Igor Bisulli described how they stumbled upon the wreck.

"Visibility wasn't the best... I got closer. And my heart stopped. Below me was a vast expanse of amphorae," De Mola said in an instagram post, along with video footage of the discovery.

The ship, reported in local media to be some 21 metres long and six metres wide, was mostly carrying Dressel 1A amphorae, which were tall and cylindrical, and mainly used for carrying wine.