Found in the waters off the Greek island of Cephalonia, the shipwreck is one of the largest from the Roman era ever found.
A team from Greece’s University of Patras located the remains of the ship, as well as its cargo of 6000 amphorae – ceramic jugs used for shipping – while conducting a sonar scan of the area.
The 110-foot-long vessel, newly detailed in the Journal of Archaeological Science, was situated at a depth of 197 feet.
The discovery indicated the importance of Cyprus for maritime trade in ancient times due to its strategic position.
“[The shipwreck] provides further evidence that the eastern Ionian Sea was part of an important trading route ferrying goods from the Aegean and the Levant to the peri-Adriatic Roman provinces and that Fiscardo port was a significant calling place,” researchers wrote.
The researchers hope to conduct more extensive archaeological examination of the ship, which is thought to have a well-preserved wooden frame.
They hope the wreck will reveal new information on Roman shipping routes, including what types of goods were traded, how cargo was stored on board and how the ship was built.
