February 23, 2026
A student from the University of Haifa discovered a Crusader sword at the bottom of the sea
צילום: רשות העתיקות
The student found a Crusader sword from the 12th century.
He found it at the bottom of the sea, off the coast of Dor, south of Haifa.
This is a rare sword from the time of the Crusades in the Land of Israel.
The student's name is Shlomi Katzin.
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He is a student of maritime civilizations at the University of Haifa. He discovered the sword while diving in the sea.
The sword is approximately one meter long. Katzin handed it over for examination to the Israel Antiquities Authority. At Elisha Hospital in Haifa, they performed CT scans on the sword. This allowed them to examine the condition of the sword without damaging it.
Researchers believe the sword was made in Europe. Most likely, a Crusader warrior brought it to the Land of Israel during the Crusades. Although the sword’s iron was damaged, its structure has mostly been preserved.
Researchers say this is an important discovery. It adds information about the Crusader period. It provides insights into the activity of warriors along the country's coastline.