Ancient 12th-century Crusader sword discovered off Israel’s northern coast

Israeli student Shlomi Katzin from the University of Haifa accidentally uncovered a rare 12th-century Crusader sword off Dor Beach, south of the northern Israeli coastal city of Haifa. CT scans indicate that the one-meter (39.3-inch) sword was likely used by a Crusader knight and brought to the Holy Land from Europe.

Katzin said he came across the sword while swimming in the area and noticed divers using metal detectors. Fearing they were antiquities looters, he chased them away and eventually found the artifact on the seabed. Recognizing the significance of the discovery, he contacted the university’s archaeology department, which alerted the Israel Antiquities Authority. The authority subsequently removed the sword from the water.

Dr. Sarah Lantous, of the University of Haifa’s Department of Maritime Civilizations, placed the Crusader sword in the wider context of Christianity during the Middle Ages. 

“In the Middle Ages, the sword became a symbol of knighthood and of the Christian faith,” Lantous explained. 

“It was also one of the most common weapons used by Crusader knights, and their lives depended on it. Swords were valuable objects, carefully maintained and preserved. The discovery and study of such a symbolic and personal object are rare and enrich our understanding of the material culture of the Crusader period. They also provide a unique opportunity to learn about the lives of Frankish knights in the Holy Land,” she assessed.

Prof. Deborah Cvikel stressed the historical importance of the discovery. 

“Only a handful of similar swords from the Crusader period are known in Israel,” Cvikel revealed. “This discovery significantly contributes to our understanding of the use of maritime anchorages and the lives of warriors at the time."

Dr. Eyal Berkovitz, a faculty member at the University of Haifa’s School of Medicine and head of Medica Diagnostics, revealed that CT technology enables “seeing through layers of time and stone.”

“Using advanced CT scans, we were able to observe what the human eye cannot detect — the internal structure of the sword and its precise physical condition,” he explained. “All of this was achieved through a noninvasive examination that preserved the integrity of the rare artifact for future generations,” he added.

Ziv Biton, CEO of Elisha Medical Center, articulated appreciation that his team was part of the archeological identification project. 

“When the past meets the future within the walls of our hospital, there is nothing more rewarding,” Biton stated. 

It is not the first time that Shlomi Katzin has discovered a historically important artifact. In 2021, he discovered another Crusader sword while scuba diving off the Carmel coast in northern Israel.

“The sword, which has been preserved in perfect condition, is a beautiful and rare find and evidently belonged to a Crusader knight,” stated Nir Distelfeld, inspector for the Israel Antiquities Authority’s Robbery Prevention Unit. “It was found encrusted with marine organisms, but is apparently made of iron. It is exciting to encounter such a personal object, taking you 900 years back in time to a different era, with knights, armor, and swords."