Though encrusted with marine organisms, the metre-long blade, hilt and handle were distinctive enough to notice after undercurrents apparently shifted sands that had concealed it.

The location, a natural cove near the port city of Haifa, suggested it had served as a shelter for seafarers, said Kobi Sharvit, director of the Israel Antiquities Authority's marine archaeology unit.

"These conditions have attracted merchant ships down the ages, leaving behind rich archaeological finds," he said.

 "It was amazing, amazing to see a beautiful sword like this."

The crusades were a series of military expeditions beginning in the 11th century launched by European Christians to take back land occupied by Muslims, especially the area around Jerusalem, then known as the Holy Land.

The sword, believed to be around 900 years old, will be put on display after it has been cleaned and restored.

It was found by the diver earlier this month about 200 metres offshore and 4 metres deep and revealed by the authority on Monday.

Mr Sharvit said that beneath the "Conglomerate shells and the stones" he expected to find well-preserved iron.

"Because it's the beginning of the research, we have to clean it, we have to to X-ray before that, and then we will get some more information about the sword," he said.

"Maybe there is a name written on it, maybe there is a decoration and that will also give us more information about the knight who held this beautiful sword."

Mr Sharvit told Haaretz that while the Christian and Muslim warriors at the time used similarly shaped swords, he believed the example was a Christian weapon because it was found off the coast and the Muslims did not come to the area by sea.

Source | Reuters