Italian archaeologists discovered a "practically intact" metal battle helmet during a recent search in the Ionian Sea.

The Superintendence of the Sea (SopMare), a Sicilian governmental organization responsible for protecting ancient artifacts in sea waters, announced the discovery on Thursday. The object was found in waters outside Vendicari, a small island on Sicily's southeast coast.

In a Facebook post translated to English, SopMare explained that the object was sitting around 16 feet deep in the Ionian Sea. Researchers from the University of Naples assisted with the search.