Divers find ancient vintage

Marine archaeologists have salvaged ancient wine vases piled on the hull of a 2350-year-old cargo ship lying on the seabed off Cyprus' southern shore, the Mediterranean island's Antiquities Department said.

The vessel is one of only a few such commercial ships dating from the late Classical period (mid-4th century BC) to have been discovered so well-preserved.

The ship rests under 45 metres of water some 2 1/2 kilometres from shore.

Divers last month brought to the surface only a few of the more than 500 amphorae - terracotta vases used in antiquity to ferry liquid and other foodstuffs - for more study. They are of the type that carried red wine from the Aegean island of Chios - reputed to be the most expensive of classical antiquity, the department said.