1,900-year-old Roman sword, or Spatha, discovered in a cave overlooking the Dead Sea

A project to photograph an inscription on a stalactite in a cave overlooking the Dead Sea has led to the discovery of three Roman long swords, or spatha, and one shorter ring-pommel sword. The well-preserved 1,900-year-old weapons are thought to have been taken from the Roman army as booty by Judean rebels and were found in their wooden scabbards.