Israeli archaeologists have discovered four 1,900-year-old Roman swords stuck in a crevice inside a cave in the Judean Desert.

Archaeologists in Israel have discovered four well-preserved 1,900-year-old Roman swords stuck in a crevice inside a cave in the Judean Desert - weapons that were likely captured by Jewish rebel forces in the battle and hidden later.

Of the four, three with iron blades were still in wooden and leather scabbards. Three of the swords had blades ranging from 24 to 26 inches (60-65 cm) in length, consistent with Roman "spata" swords, while the fourth had a significantly shorter blade of 18 inches (45 cm) and was classified as a sword with ring guard. All swords were of a "standard" design and were used by Roman soldiers stationed in Judea at the time.

Researchers believe that Judean rebels may have hidden this hoard in a cave in the now-famous En Gedi nature reserve in northern Israel after seizing it from the Roman army as "booty" during the Bar Kochba Rebellion, a Jewish-led rebellion in the Roman province. Judea, which took place between 132 and 135 AD. e.