Roman ship carrying roof tiles found near Sardinia

The wreckage of a Romain ship which sank 2,000 years ago has been found off the coast of Sardinia, complete with the cargo of roof tiles it was carrying.

The roof tiles, believed to have been produced in or around Rome, were packed into the hold of the vessel, which is 60ft long and 23ft wide.

They were probably going to be used in the construction of a villa for a senior Roman official or wealthy merchant, experts said.

“Given the location of the discovery, archaeologists believe that the vessel was destined for Spain or the west coast of Sardinia,” an official statement said, adding that the find was of “great scientific value”.

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Story: Nick Squires, The Telegraph | Photo: Polizia di Stato