An ancient Roman-era shipwreck filled has been discovered undisturbed and filled with cargo at the bottom of the sea off the coast of Cyprus.
The wreck was found off the Mediterranean island's southeast coast, near the popular beach resort of Protaras, by a pair of volunteer divers with the University of Cyprus' archaeological research unit.
It was loaded with transport amphorae – large clay jars used to carry wine and oil.
They are thought to have been from Syria and ancient Cilicia on modern-day Turkey's southeastern coast.
The ship is understood to be the first from the ancient Roman period to be found in Cyprus in good condition.
The country’s antiquities department said it hoped the discovery could reveal details of trade in the region at the time.
A study is now underway to “shed light on the breadth and scale of seaborne trade between Cyprus and other Roman provinces in the eastern Mediterranean”.
It is the first time an underwater archaeological project has been fully funded by the Cyprus government.
