The ship was found off the port of Civitavecchia, about 80 kilometers from the Italian capital. The ship lies on a sandy seabed at a depth of about 160 meters.

The ship, estimated to be more than 20 metres long and dating back to the 1st or 2nd century BC, is believed to have been used to carry cargo, as hundreds of amphorae, a type of ancient Roman vessel, were mostly found intact on board.

"This extraordinary find is an important example of the dangers faced by ancient Roman ships when trying to reach port and is evidence of ancient maritime trade routes," police said.

They said the shipwreck had been located and filmed using a remote-controlled robot. It was not immediately clear whether any attempt would be made to raise the relic from the seabed.

Quoc Thien (according to Reuters)