On February 22, the University of Haifa announced the discovery of a 12th-century c.e. Crusader sword off the Carmel Coast near Dor Beach. The sword was discovered by amateur diver Shlomi Katzin, a University of Haifa student working for the Department of Maritime Civilizations. This is the second Crusader sword Katzin has found; he discovered the other sword in 2021.
While Katzin was diving, he noticed a group of divers using metal detectors. Concerned that they may be looters, Katzin drove them away. Soon after the divers left, he noticed a sword laying on the seabed. He swam to shore and contacted University of Haifa Professor Deborah Cvikel, who then contacted the Israel Antiquities Authority (iaa).
Due to years of being submerged, this sword has been coated in a thick layer of organisms and sea sediments, making it difficult to gain information from the discovery. Nevertheless, researchers were able to test this sword by using a CT scan machine at the Medica Elisha Hospital in Haifa.
Dr. Eyal Berowitz, expert in medical diagnostics, explained, “The technology allowed us to peek through the layers of time and stone. … Using CT, we were able to see what the human eye cannot, the internal structure of the sword and its precise physical condition, all through a non-invasive examination that preserved the integrity of this rare artifact for future generations.”
Professor Cvikel explained, “In Israel, only a handful of similar swords from the Crusader period are known to date, and this discovery greatly contributes to our understanding of the use of maritime anchorages and the lives of warriors during this era.”
Further research has shown a fracture in the blade. Very little of the original sword, however, is still present.
“Tests indicate the meter-long (3.3-foot) weapon likely belonged to a 12th-century Crusader who brought it from Europe. It was designed for one-handed use,” the Jerusalem Post explained. European Crusaders invaded Israel in 1099 c.e. and their conquest of the Holy Land lasted approximately 200 years, which lines up precisely with the dating of the sword.
University of Haifa instructor Sara Lantos explained the importance of this discovery: “In the Middle Ages, the sword became the symbol of knights and chivalry, as well as a symbol of the Christian faith. It was also one of the most common weapons used by Crusader knights, whose lives depended on them. Swords were valuable objects and were therefore carefully maintained and preserved. The discovery and study of such a symbolic and personal object are rare, and enrich our knowledge of the material culture of the Crusader period. In addition, they offer us a unique opportunity to learn about the lives of Frankish knights in the Holy Land.”
