Israeli scuba diver discovers ancientCrusader sword19 October 2021

Jacob Sharvit, director of the Marine Archaeology Unit ofthe Israel Antiquities Authority holds a meter-long (yard-long) sword, that experts say dates back to theCrusaders is on display in Mediterranean seaport ofCesarea, Israel, Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. The authoritysaid Monday a scuba diver was on a weekend dive innorthern Israel last Saturday when he spotted a trove ofancient artifacts that included anchors, pottery and thesword. Credit: AP Photo/Ariel Schalit

An Israeli scuba diver has salvaged an ancientsword off the country's Mediterranean coast thatexperts say dates back to the Crusaders.

Israel's Antiquities Authority said Monday the manwas on a weekend dive in northern Israel when hespotted a trove of ancient artifacts that includedanchors, pottery and a meter-long (yard-long)sword.

The diver was about 150 meters (170 yards) off thecoast in five-meter-deep (5.5-yard-deep) waterwhen he made the discovery.

Experts say the area provided shelter for ancientships and is home to many archaeologicaltreasures, some dating back 4,000 years. But such

discoveries can be elusive because of theconstantly shifting sands.

Fearing his discovery might be buried, the divertook the sword ashore and delivered it togovernment experts, the authority said. Theweapon is estimated to be 900 years old.

"It was found encrusted with marine organisms, butis apparently made of iron," said Nir Distelfeld, aninspector in the authority's robbery prevention unit."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."

The sword is to be cleaned and further analyzed,while the diver, identified as Shlomi Katzin, wasgiven a certificate of appreciation for goodcitizenship.

Jacob Sharvit, director of the Marine Archaeology Unit ofthe Israel Antiquities Authority holds a meter-long (yard-long) sword, that experts say dates back to theCrusaders is on display in Mediterranean seaport ofCesarea, Israel, Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. Israeliarchaeologists say a scuba diver has salvaged anancient sword off the country's Mediterranean coast thatexperts say dates back to the Crusaders. Israel'sAntiquities Authority said Monday the man was on a

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weekend dive in northern Israel last Saturday when hespotted a trove of ancient artifacts that included anchors,pottery and a meter-long (yard-long) sword. Fearing thesword would be covered up by shifting sands, it says theman took it ashore and handed it over to governmentexperts. Archaeologists believe that many ancienttreasures are submerged in the area. The diver wasgiven a certificate of appreciation for turning over the900-year-old item. Credit: AP Photo/Ariel Schalit

A meter-long (yard-long) sword, that experts say datesback to the Crusaders is on display in the Mediterraneanseaport of Cesarea, Israel, Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021.Israel's Antiquities Authority said Monday a scuba diverwas on a weekend dive in northern Israel last Saturdaywhen he spotted a trove of ancient artifacts that includedanchors, pottery and the sword. Credit: AP Photo/ArielSchalit

A meter-long (yard-long) sword, that experts say datesback to the Crusaders is on display in the Mediterraneanseaport of Cesarea, Israel, Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021.Israel's Antiquities Authority said Monday a scuba diverwas on a weekend dive in northern Israel last Saturdaywhen he spotted a trove of ancient artifacts that includedanchors, pottery and the sword. Credit: AP Photo/ArielSchalit

In this photo provided by Israel's Antiquities Authority, anancient sword is seen after it was discovered by anIsraeli diver off the country's Mediterranean coast nearHaifa, Israel, Oct. 14, 2021. An Israeli scuba diver hassalvaged an ancient sword off the country'sMediterranean coast that experts say dates back to theCrusaders. Israel's Antiquities Authority said the man wason a weekend dive in northern Israel last Saturday whenhe spotted the sword. Fearing his discovery might beburied, the diver took the sword, estimated to be 900years old, ashore and delivered it to government experts,the authority said. Credit: Israel's Antiquities Authority viaAP

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Jacob Sharvit, director of the Marine Archaeology Unit ofthe Israel Antiquities Authority holds a meter-long (yard-long) sword, that experts say dates back to theCrusaders is on display in Mediterranean seaport ofCesarea, Israel, Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. Israel'sAntiquities Authority said Monday a scuba diver was on aweekend dive in northern Israel last Saturday when hespotted a trove of ancient artifacts that included anchors,pottery and the sword. Credit: AP Photo/Ariel Schalit

© 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast,rewritten or redistributed without permission.APA citation: Israeli scuba diver discovers ancient Crusader sword (2021, October 19) retrieved 16March 2022 from https://phys.org/news/2021-10-israeli-scuba-diver-ancient-crusader.html

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