A maritime archaeology student has made the ‘find of a lifetime’ - but for the second time, after discovering a 900-year-old Crusader sword while swimming off Israel's Carmel Coast. Shlomi Katzin, a student at the University of Haifa, spotted the remarkable artifact emerging from the seabed near Dor Beach, a stunning reminder of the region's tumultuous medieval history. This is the second Crusader-era sword Katzin has discovered in the same area, the first having been found in 2021.
A Fortuitous Find
According to a University of Haifa release, Katzin’s discovery was a stroke of luck. While swimming, he noticed a group of divers using a metal detector and, fearing they were antiquities thieves, he encouraged them to leave the area. Shortly after, he spotted the hilt of the sword sticking out of the sand. He promptly reported the find to Professor Deborah Cvikel of the University of Haifa’s Department of Maritime Civilizations, who then contacted the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA).
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The sword passing through a CT scanner to help analysis. (Dr. Eyal Berkowitz/Medica Diagnostics/University of Haifa)
A Window into the Past
The meter-long sword was carefully removed from the sea and taken for analysis. To avoid damaging the delicate artifact, which was heavily encrusted with marine life, researchers at the Medica Elisha Hospital in Haifa used a CT scanner to examine its internal structure. The scan revealed that the sword was designed for one-handed combat and was likely of European origin, brought to the Holy Land by a Crusader knight. Despite the extensive marine encrustation, the sword is remarkably well-preserved, offering a rare glimpse into the weaponry of the Crusader period notes the Times of Israel.
The 12th-century Crusader sword after being recovered from the Mediterranean Sea. (Yoav Bornstein/University of Haifa)
A Rare and Significant Find
Experts have hailed the discovery as exceptionally rare and significant.
“This is an extremely rare find that sheds light on the Crusader presence along the country’s coast,” said Professor Cvikel in a statement.
Only a handful of similar swords from the Crusader period are known to exist in Israel, making this discovery a valuable contribution to understanding the lives of the warriors and the use of maritime anchorages during that era. Swords were valuable possessions in the Middle Ages, not only as weapons but also as symbols of status and faith, and were rarely discarded. The loss of this sword would have been a significant blow to its owner .
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The sword in situ off the Carmel coast, Israel. (Underwater image (screenshot) Shlomi Katzin/University of Haifa)
The Crusader Presence on the Carmel Coast
The Carmel coast, where the sword was found, was a significant area during the Crusades, a series of religious wars between Christians and Muslims for control of the Holy Land that lasted for nearly 200 years. The natural coves and anchorages along the coast provided shelter for ships, making it a hub of maritime activity. This constant traffic of merchant and military vessels has left a rich archaeological legacy on the seabed, with discoveries of artifacts from various periods. The presence of this sword, and the one found by Katzin in 2021, attests to the passage of Crusader knights through this strategic coastal route, either on their way to or from battles in the Holy Land.
Top image: The 12th-century Crusader sword in situ at the discovery site off the coast of Israel. Source: Underwater image (screenshot) Shlomi Katzin/ University of Haifa
By Gary Manners
References
Berkowitz, E. in University of Haifa. 2026. Student discovers 800-year-old Crusader sword off Israeli coast. Available at: https://www.haifa.ac.il/2026/02/22/student-discovers-800-year-old-crusader-sword-off-israeli-coast/
Cowie, A. 2021. Diver Discovers 900-Year-Old Crusader Sword Off Coast of Israel. Available at: /news-history-archaeology/crusader-sword-0015963
Tercatin, R. 2026. Diver finds his second Crusader sword in 5 years off Israel's coast. Available at: https://www.timesofisrael.com/diver-finds-his-second-crusader-sword-in-5-years-off-israels-coast/
Hughes-Castleberry, K. 2026. The sword in the sea: How one lucky graduate student found his second Crusader sword while taking a swim off Israel's coast. Available at: https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/the-sword-in-the-sea-how-one-lucky-graduate-student-found-his-second-crusader-sword-while-taking-a-swim-off-israels-coast
Sela-Eitam, M. 2026. University of Haifa student discovers 12th century Crusader sword off of Israel’s northern coast. Available at: https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-887620
