Student 'accidentally' finds 'extremely rare' Crusader-era sword after chasing off suspected thieves

A student in Israel recently made a chance discovery tied to one of history's most violent eras: the Crusades.

The sword, which dates to the 12th century, measures over three feet long.

University of Haifa student Shlomi Katzin was swimming near Dor when he "noticed a group of divers with metal detectors," per the translated release.

"Shlomi managed to drive them away from the area, and later during his swim, he spotted the sword protruding from the seabed and acted quickly," the release said.

"He informed Prof. Debbie Cvikel from the Department of Maritime Civilizations at the University of Haifa, who contacted the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA)."

Once the IAA approved the sword's removal, it was sent to Elisha Medical Center for a CT scan. 

Pictures of the artifact show it was heavily encrusted with shells over the centuries, though it still retains the unmistakable shape of a sword.

Debbie Cvikel, a professor at the University of Haifa, called the artifact an "extremely rare find that sheds light on the Crusader presence along the country's coastline."

Eyal Berkowitz, imaging sciences expert at the University of Haifa, noted that his team's imaging techniques were non-invasive and kept the artifact intact.

Researchers said the sword also carried symbolic significance.

"It was also one of the most common weapons used by Crusader knights, and their lives depended on them," said Lantus. 

"Swords were valuable objects - and therefore were carefully maintained and preserved."

The Crusades were a series of wars between Christian and Muslim forces between the 11th and 13th centuries.

They began when Pope Urban II called to reclaim the Holy Land in 1095, with the First Crusade resulting in the siege of Jerusalem in 1099.