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Ancient Padlock Code Cracked by Modern Tech
4 Nov
Summary
- A 400-year-old padlock from a shipwreck was opened using CT scanning.
- The lock's code, ANCE, was deciphered by experts at Cardiff University.
- The padlock was found in 1999 near a hoard of Spanish silver coins.
A remarkable four-letter code on a 400-year-old padlock, discovered on a shipwreck off the Welsh coast, has been deciphered using advanced CT scanning technology. The brass lock, found in the sand near Margam in Port Talbot in 1999 by metal detectorist Peter Hughes, is a relic from the Ann Francis ship, which sank on December 28, 1583.
Experts at Amgueddfa Cymru and Cardiff University employed micro CT scanning to examine the lock's internal workings. This allowed them to identify the correct letter combination, ANCE, which had stumped Mr. Hughes for approximately 20 years. He discovered the lock alongside Spanish silver coins and coin weights, suggesting it may have protected valuable items.
The lock, in excellent condition, is now part of a display at Swansea Waterfront Museum. Its discovery and the subsequent code-breaking highlight the intersection of historical artifacts and modern scientific techniques. The process of reporting treasure finds in Wales, governed by the Treasure Act of 1996, ensures such discoveries are properly documented and valued.
