In a remarkable stroke of archaeological fortune, Shlomi Katzin has discovered a second medieval sword from the Crusader period while diving off the Israeli coast, nearly five years after finding his first such artifact in the same general area.
The sword, heavily encrusted with barnacles and marine growth, dates to the 12th century and was protruding vertically from the sandy seabed when Katzin spotted it. The discovery occurred in waters known to contain historic shipwrecks, adding another piece to the puzzle of Crusader-era naval activity in the region.
Katzin, who studies maritime archaeology at the University of Haifa, made the discovery under unusual circumstances. He noticed a group of individuals with metal detectors in the area and, suspecting potential looting activity, moved to investigate. During this intervention, he observed the ancient weapon embedded in the sand.
The artifact was transferred to the Israel Antiquities Authority and researchers at the Department of Maritime Civilizations at the University of Haifa. Faced with the challenge of examining the heavily corroded weapon without causing damage, researchers employed an innovative approach: utilizing a CT scanner at a nearby hospital to image the sword beneath its marine coating.
The scanning revealed significant deterioration of the iron blade, with little of the original metal remaining intact. Crucially, the analysis indicated the weapon was not manufactured in the Levant, but rather in Europe. This finding, combined with evidence from the 2021 discovery, strongly suggests both swords belonged to European soldiers participating in the Crusades, the series of military campaigns launched between the 10th and 13th centuries.
Professor Debbie Zwickel of the University of Haifa, who secured special permission from the Israel Antiquities Authority to remove the sword and prevent further environmental damage or theft, emphasized the discovery's significance.
"This is an extremely rare find that sheds light on the Crusader presence on the country's coasts," Professor Zwickel stated. "Only a handful of similar swords from the Crusader period are known in Israel to date, and this discovery contributes greatly to our understanding of the use of naval anchorages and the lives of warriors during this period."
Historical records indicate that while Muslim armies of the Crusader period constructed coastal fortifications, European forces distinguished themselves through their naval capabilities and sea-based transportation. The presence of European-manufactured weapons in these waters provides tangible evidence of this maritime activity.
The discovery represents an exceptional case of repeated archaeological success in a single location. Katzin's initial find in 2021 garnered international attention for its remarkable preservation and historical value. The recovery of a second weapon from the same era and approximate location suggests the area may have served as a significant anchorage or the site of a naval incident during the Crusader period.
The Crusades consisted of three major European military expeditions aimed at capturing the Holy Land from Arab control. These campaigns, spanning several centuries, left an indelible mark on the region's history and archaeology. Artifacts such as these swords provide researchers with rare physical evidence of the conflict and the individuals who participated in it.
The rarity of such discoveries cannot be overstated. With only a limited number of Crusader-era swords documented in Israel, each new find offers invaluable data for understanding medieval warfare, metallurgy, and the daily lives of soldiers operating far from their European homelands.
The artifact will undergo further study and conservation efforts before potentially being displayed to the public. Researchers hope additional analysis will reveal more details about the sword's origin, manufacture, and the circumstances that led to its presence on the seafloor for nearly a millennium.