The wreckage of a believed fourth-century AD Roman ship was found off the coast of Gallipoli, Lecce in southern Italy, Italy’s Culture Ministry revealed on February 3.
“In June 2025, off the coast of Gallipoli, a wreckage of a large Roman honorary ship was discovered, perfectly preserved on the back, with its load of amphoras destined for the transport of garum, one of the most precious commodities of antiquity,” the ministry posted to its social media.
Garum, a fermented fish sauce, was a popular condiment in the Roman period.
According to the ministry, the site has been under constant monitoring by Italy’s financial police, the Guardia di Finanza (GDF), to “protect the site from possible looting and to preserve its enormous scientific value.”
“The Garum cargo gives a direct testimony to commercial traffic in the Roman Mediterranean and opens new perspectives for research on the economy and daily life of the imperial age.”
The GDF also announced the find in a post to X/Twitter, adding that “the discovery was made during routine maritime surveillance operations using the latest and most sophisticated onboard equipment.”
Underwater excavation estimated at €780,000
The Superintendencies of Brindisi, Lecce, and Taranto have been working to secure funding for “documentation, archaeological survey, and safety measures for the wreck,” the news outlet Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata (ANSA) reported.
According to ANSA, the project was estimated to cost about €780,000 by Italy’s High Council for Cultural Heritage and Landscape.
The planning of the underwater excavation will be undertaken to ensure that the ship’s conservation, and that of any artifacts found onboard, will be “conducted in accordance with the principles of the UNESCO Convention for the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage.”