Two Roman amphorae recovered from the sea of ​​Ustica

Ustica (Palermo) – Two Roman amphorae were recovered, in the sea of ​​Ustica, from the wreck of the ship identified in 2019 at a depth of 80 meters, along the Falconiera itinerary. The two amphorae, which are part of the conspicuous cargo contained in the Roman wreck of the Dressel 1 type, were brought back to the surface by the mission led by the Superintendence of the Sea of ​​the Sicilian Region after three unsuccessful attempts due to adverse weather and sea conditions and strong currents.
“The recovery – declares the regional councilor for Cultural Heritage Alberto Samonà – completes this phase of investigation and is necessary to attribute a certain dating to the wreck of the Roman ship on which SopMare has carried out the necessary diagnostic measurements in recent days so that it can proceed with the museum exhibition on the site of the discovery. It is, once again, an important mission, which has seen work in great harmony and synergy between Sicily and Malta “.

The activity was possible thanks to the high funders of the UniMalta group of Timmy Gambin, by Riccardo Cingillo, Gian Michele Iaria, with the deep-sea divers assisted by the divers of the Guardia di Finanza and by the divers of the Sopmare. Present were the coastguard of the Guardia di Finanza Inzucchi with the commander Averna and a conspicuous array of soldiers from the Fiamme Gialle. The collaboration of the Marenostrum diving center and the Municipality of Ustica was invaluable for the success of the recovery. “With this activity – highlights the superintendent of the Sea, Valeria Li Vigni – an operation that began in 2019 ends with the casual identification of a heap of amphorae in the sea of ​​Ustica and continued with the organization of a mission that, just two days ago, he carried out the dives to carry out the 3D surveys and the necessary diagnoses. The submerged ship, once circumscribed and identified precisely at a depth of 80 meters, will be museumized on site to be part of one of the submerged archaeological itineraries ” .