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Ancient Metal Artifacts Retrieved from Sea Near Holy Land

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Did you know that hand grenades have been around for hundreds of years? That's just one of the metal artifacts turned over to the Israel Antiquities Authority by a family in Israel.

The Mazliah family in Israel recently contacted the Israel Antiquities Authority after the death of their father. Marcel Mazliah, who was employed at the Hadera power station on the Mediterranean Sea, said he had retrieved the items from the sea while working there.

The IAA said most of the metal objects were decorated and had apparently fallen overboard from a metal merchant's ship in the Early Islamic period – early 9th century A.D. to the late 12th century A.D.

"The finds include a toggle pin and the head of a knife from the Middle Bronze Age (from more than 3,500 years ago)," IAA curator Ayala Lester said.

"The other items, among them, two mortars and two pestles, fragments of candlesticks, etc., date to the Fatimid period (11th century A.D.)," Lester said in a statement.

"The items were apparently manufactured in Syria and were brought to Israel. The finds are evidence of the metal trade that was conducted during this period," she added.

Among the many artifacts is a hand grenade that was common in Israel during the Crusader, Ayyubid and Mamluk periods.

The IAA encourages citizens to hand over artifacts and commends them publicly for doing so. The Mazliah family will receive a certificate of appreciation from the IAA, a statement said.

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