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Roman wreck full of wine jars found off Albania by U.S.-Albanian archaeological mission

TIRANA (AP).- A U.S.-Albanian archaeological mission said Monday it has found the well-preserved wreck of a Roman cargo ship off Albania’s coast, complete with some 300 wine jars — all empty, alas. The 30-meter long (yard) wreck dates to the 1st century B.C. and its cargo is believed to have been the produce of southern Albanian vineyards en route to western European markets, including France. A statement from the Key West, Florida-based RPM Nautical Foundation said the find was made 50 meters (yards) deep near the port city of Vlora, 90 miles (140 kilometers) southwest of the capital, Tirana, early this month. The foundation, in cooperation with Albanian archaeologists, has been surveying a swathe of Albania’s previously unexplored coastal waters for the past five years. So far, experts have located 20 shipwrecks — including several relatively modern ones. “Taking into consideration the date and also the depth — which is well suited for excavation