Rome - More than two millennia after it sank, the remains of a Roman cargo ship have been discovered off the coast near Rome, as announced by Italy's Carabinieri police arts squad on Friday. The remarkable find was situated on a sandy seabed at a depth of approximately 525 feet, close to the port of Civitavecchia, approximately 80 kilometers northwest of Rome.

The ancient vessel, believed to measure over 20 meters in length and dating back to the 1st or 2nd century BC, was carrying a valuable cargo of numerous intact amphorae—traditional Roman jars. The discovery is considered an extraordinary example of a Roman shipwreck that navigated the dangers of the sea, attempting to reach the nearby coast, and stands as a testament to ancient maritime trade routes, according to the Carabinieri.

Using a remotely operated robot, the relic was located and captured on film, though it remains uncertain whether there are plans to recover the ship or its precious cargo from the depths of the sea.