ANCIENT ROMAN SHIPWRECK FOUND OFF SICILIAN RESORT

A roman shipwreck was recently excavated in shallow waters near an Italian beach resort. The most complete Roman ship ever found, the cargo vessel sank off the coast of Sicily some 1,700 years ago. Among the ship's official cargo were hidden stashes of valuable interlocking tiles used in construction. This Roman shipwreck, dating to the third century AD, has revealed signs of smuggling.

Dating to the third century AD, the large sunken ship was fully recovered six months ago at a depth of 7 feet near the shore of Marausa Lido, a beach resort near Trapani.

Her cargo, officially consisting of assorted jars once filled with walnuts, figs, olives, wine, oil and fish sauce, also contained many unusual tubular tiles. The unique tiles were apparently valuable enough for sailors to smuggle them from North Africa to Rome, where they sold for higher prices.