Diver Finds Second Crusader Sword in Same Underwater Spot

Lightning has struck twice for one lucky diver who just found his second ancient sword in the same underwater location.

Shlomi Katzin was swimming off the Israeli coast in 2024 when he spotted another barnacle-covered sword jutting vertically from the sand. The catch? He discovered his first Crusader sword in almost the exact same spot back in 2021.

Katzin, now a maritime archaeology student at the University of Haifa, knows these waters well. The area is famous for historic shipwrecks dating back centuries.

During his recent dive, he noticed people with metal detectors near the site. Suspecting looters, he swam over to chase them away and spotted the sword at that very moment.

The 12th-century weapon was completely encrusted with shells and sand after spending roughly 900 years underwater. Even half-buried, its distinctive shape was unmistakable.

Katzin immediately contacted Professor Debbie Zwickel at the University of Haifa. She secured special permission from the Israel Antiquities Authority to remove the sword before looters or ocean currents could damage it further.

Researchers got creative with their examination method. They took the fragile artifact to a nearby hospital and used a CT scanner to see through the barnacles without risking damage to what lay beneath.

The scans revealed that little of the original iron blade remained after centuries in saltwater. More importantly, they showed the sword was forged in Europe, not locally in the Levant.

This means both of Katzin's swords almost certainly belonged to European soldiers fighting in the Crusades. Between the 10th and 13th centuries, European forces launched three major campaigns to capture the Holy Land from Arab control.

Why This Inspires

Finding one ancient sword is remarkable luck. Finding two in the same location reveals something even more valuable: a window into history.

These discoveries help archaeologists understand how Crusader armies moved, where they anchored their ships, and what equipment they carried. Only a handful of similar Crusader swords have ever been found in Israel.

"This is an extremely rare find that sheds light on the Crusader presence on the country's coasts," Professor Zwickel explained. The discovery contributes greatly to understanding naval warfare and warrior life during this turbulent period.

Historical records show that while Muslim armies built coastal fortifications during the Crusades, only Europeans traveled extensively by sea. These sword discoveries support that pattern and mark likely locations of ancient naval anchorages.

For Katzin, what started as a hobby dive turned into two career-defining discoveries that are now helping rewrite our understanding of medieval maritime history.