Archaeologists have unearthed a medieval sword dating back to the Crusader era near the ancient port of Dor in Israel. This intriguing discovery was reported by Fox News.
Shlomi Katzin, a student of marine civilizations, who was snorkeling near the port, made the significant find. While exploring, he noticed a group of divers equipped with metal detectors. Katzin suspected them to be treasure hunters and promptly asked them to leave.
Shortly thereafter, Katzin encountered what the intruders might have been searching for: an ancient sword lying on the seabed. He immediately informed his professor, Debbie Cvikel, about the find. The artifact, believed to have once belonged to a Crusader, had been submerged in the Mediterranean since the 12th century. Measuring approximately 90 centimeters in length, the sword was encrusted with a thick layer of sand and shells.
Cvikel described the discovery as exceptionally rare, noting the infrequency of such finds in Israel. Her colleague, Sarah Latus, highlighted the cultural significance of swords during the era, emphasizing their role as symbols of knighthood, honor, and Christian faith.
"They were prized possessions, meticulously maintained and cherished," she remarked.
Crusaders were participants in military-religious campaigns organised by the Catholic Church between the 11th and 13th centuries, aiming to free the Holy Land, notably Jerusalem, from Muslim rule. They took special vows and wore red crosses as emblems of their mission. Although these expeditions were officially deemed pilgrimages with arms, they frequently resulted in plunder, massacres, and the establishment of independent states in the Middle East.
In earlier reports, it was revealed that an intact sword had been found in a tomb of an ancient warrior in Kazakhstan. This dual-edged bronze blade, measuring 30 centimeters, was decorated with intricate carvings of argali horns and predatory birds.