The remains of an ancient Roman ship and its cargo were discovered on Monday off the coast of Trapani on the north-western tip of Sicily.
A scuba diver found the 12-metre ship lying on the sea bed some 250 metres off Lido a Valderice, at a depth of four metres.
''From a preliminary survey, it may have been a shipwreck caused by adverse weather and sea conditions,'' said Sicily's superintendent for the sea Sebastiano Tusa.
He added that three amphorae which presumably once formed part of the ship's cargo were found covered in sand close to the wreck.
''They seem to be of African origin from around the fourth or fifth century AD,'' Tusa said.
Sicily's culture department will carry out a full investigation into the site, which is being guarded by the Trapani port authorities.
