A team from Cardiff University has successfully unlocked a 400-year-old brass padlock using micro-CT scanning technology, solving a mystery that has persisted since the artifact was recovered from a shipwreck off the coast of Wales. The lock, which dates back to 1583, was found sealed and its four-letter code remained unknown for centuries.
Scientists were able to examine the lock's internal mechanism without causing any damage. By creating a detailed 3D model of its workings, they identified the correct letter combination: ANCE. This allowed them to open the historic artifact, with museum specialists confirming they were the first people to do so since the ship sank.
The lock is believed to have once secured a chest on board the Ann Francis, a ship that sank during a storm on December 28, 1583. The vessel was en route to King's Lynn from Spain when it was driven off course and ran aground on Margam Beach. Its cargo lay buried for centuries before being discovered by metal detectorists.
Researchers suspect the lock protected valuables such as silver coins or other precious items. While Spanish coins and two coin weights were found near the lock at the wreck site, the chest itself has not been recovered, leaving its exact contents a mystery. Dr. David Williams, a research associate at Cardiff University, noted the lock's exceptional condition, allowing its lettered dials to still turn after more than four centuries.
Alastair Willis, senior curator of coins and Welsh economic history at Museum Wales, described the lock as a unique find due to its excellent condition and association with a dated wreck. The lock is now on display at the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea alongside other artifacts from the Ann Francis hoard, which includes approximately 870 gold and silver coins, personal belongings, and various utensils dating from the late 15th to 16th century.
