Third Crusade sword found off Israeli coast

Frequented over the centuries and millennia by Egyptian, Phoenician or even Greek ships, the shores of the Levantine sea are considered to be a vast cemetery.

A necropolis with sailors and wrecks littered with the most diverse remains, from shipments of sunken amphorae to ancient statues.

This rich archaeological bazaar unveiled Saturday, to the human eye, a new object lost in the generous funds of the Levantine basin, a weapon of war, for a change.

Discovered by an Israeli diver, it is a medieval sword.

Undoubtedly that of a Crusader, believes the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), which was entrusted with the blade.

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About 120 centimeters long, the Western-made sword was spotted off Atlit, about ten kilometers south of Haifa, by the Israeli diver Shlomi Katzin, near remains of pottery and a few anchors. .

Returned to the surface with the weapon partly covered with mollusks, the swimmer immediately alerted the Israel Antiquities Authority of his discovery, the institution said in a statement released Monday.

The object, which must be cleaned soon before being studied in detail, has already been authenticated by Israeli specialists.

About 900 years old, the weapon would date from the Third Crusade, around the years 1189-1192.

The sword discovered off the Israeli coast is almost 120 centimeters long.

Nir Disteleld / Israel Antiquities Authority

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"The iron sword is in a perfect state of preservation and constitutes a beautiful and rare discovery," said

Nir Distelfeld, IAA inspector in charge of the case.

Well protected from wear and tear by a layer of sand, the bladed weapon was discovered in an area of ​​about 300 m2 monitored since this summer by the Israeli authorities.

A major storm would have affected the site last June, which had the effect of stripping part of the seabed, revealing various archaeological remains hitherto unsuspected, reports the

.

Patrimonial citizenship

The happy story of the diver and amateur archaeologist earned him, Monday, the thanks and distinction of the IAA.

A beautiful story of good citizenship, the discovery of this medieval sword is not just a simple and picturesque archaeological news item, as it happens from time to time in the region, however, the Israel Antiquities Authority emphasized. .

On the contrary, it would make it possible to highlight the activity which once animated this sector of the Levantine coast.

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“Several discoveries already indicated to us that the mooring was used as early as the Late Bronze Age, 4000 years ago. But the recent find of the sword suggests that the cove was also used during the Crusader era

,

says Kobi Sharvit, director of the IAA's underwater archeology unit. The Crusader ships must have been sheltered from storms, like the countless merchant ships to have frequented this coastline over the centuries, also said the specialist, Monday, for The

. So many small archaeological details that can easily pass under the noses of specialists when remains are looted rather than returned to the competent authorities, the IAA has repeatedly reminded us in the past.

The sword was discovered not far from Château-Pèlerin, the crusader citadel of Atlit.

Dated from the 13th century, it is however posterior to the third crusade which opposed several European sovereigns - the king of France Philippe Auguste, the Germanic emperor Frederic Barbarossa and the king of England Richard Coeur-de-Lion - with Saladin, sultan of 'Egypt and Syria.

The conflict resulted in the recapture of Jerusalem by Saladin's forces, as well as the consolidation of the coast in European hands.

A balance of power to which this sword, lost among the waves of the eastern Mediterranean, could testify.