Crusader sword recovered from Mediterranean seabed
This sword is believed to have belonged to a crusader
who sailed to the Holy Land almost a millennium ago
LOCATION: Caesarea, Israel
The 3.2 foot-long blade was recovered from the Mediterranean seabed
by a sharp-eyed amateur diver, the Israel Antiquities Authority said
(SOUNDBITE) (English) DIRECTOR OF MARINE ARCHAEOLOGY UNIT AT ISRAEL ANTIQUITIES AUTHORITY, YAAKOV SHARVIT, SAYING:"It was amazing, amazing to see a beautiful sword like this. That means that behind all the conglomerate shells and the stones we have underneath, there is a real good preservation sword made of iron, most of it made of iron except probably the handle which usually were made of wood or any other material."
The sword is believed to be around 900 years old
It will be put on display after it has been cleaned and restored
