STORYLINE
An Israeli scuba diver has salvaged an ancient sword off the country’s Mediterranean coast that experts say dates back to the Crusaders.

Israel’s Antiquities Authority said the man was on a weekend dive in northern Israel when he spotted a trove of ancient artefacts that included anchors, pottery and a metre-long sword.

The diver was about 150 metres off the coast in five-metre-deep water when he made the discovery.

“It was found encrusted with marine organisms, but is apparently made of iron,” said Nir Distelfeld, an inspector in the authority’s robbery prevention unit. “It is exciting to encounter such a personal object, taking you 900 years back in time to a different era, with knights, armor and swords.”

In the video of the discovery, the shifting sands had drifted off the weapon, leaving it resting on the sea bed.

The sword is to be cleaned and further analysed, while the diver, identified as Shlomi Katzin, was given a certificate of appreciation for good citizenship.

SHOTLIST
Video from the dive of the discovery, off the coast of Haifa.
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