‘Like opening the Ark Of The Covenant’: Scientists crack code on treasure ship’s padlock — solving 400-year-old maritime mystery
Researchers have used advanced scanning technology to unlock a sealed brass combination padlock recovered from a historic shipwreck off the coast of Wales. The device, which had remained shut for centuries, required a four-letter combination to open. Scientists peered inside the mechanism using computed tomography scans to solve the puzzle, though the object it was originally meant to secure remains unknown. The artifact belongs to a treasure hoard stemming from a maritime disaster dating back to 1583.
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- ✓ Scientists cracked a four-letter combination code on a brass padlock from a 1583 shipwreck off Wales.
- ✓ The artifact was discovered buried in the sand near Port Talbot.
- ✓ Researchers used CT scans to peer inside the sealed lock and solve the centuries-old mechanism.
What changed
Researchers successfully determined the four-letter combination and opened the brass lock using computed tomography scans.
Live updates
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Scientists Crack 400-Year-Old Code on Welsh Shipwreck Padlock
Researchers have used advanced scanning technology to unlock a sealed brass combination padlock recovered from a historic shipwreck off the coast of Wales. The device, which had remained shut for centuries, required a four-letter combination to open. Scientists peered inside the mechanism using computed tomography scans to solve the puzzle, though the object it was originally meant to secure remains unknown. The artifact belongs to a treasure hoard stemming from a maritime disaster dating back to 1583.
Why it matters
The sealed padlock was discovered buried in the sand near Port Talbot, representing a rare technological artifact from an early maritime disaster. Scholars note that combination locks from this era are exceptionally scarce and mechanically sophisticated. This success allows researchers to examine the internal components without destroying the fragile antique.
What is confirmed
- Scientists cracked a four-letter combination code on a brass padlock from a 1583 shipwreck off Wales.
- The artifact was discovered buried in the sand near Port Talbot.
- Researchers used CT scans to peer inside the sealed lock and solve the centuries-old mechanism.
Still unconfirmed
- The exact identity of the treasure chest or compartment the padlock was protecting remains unconfirmed.
What to watch next
- Further analysis of the internal mechanics of the brass lock
- Exhibition details regarding the opened artifact and its treasure hoard
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (20)
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- BBC — Code cracked for shipwreck padlock solving 400-year-old mystery
- Phys.org — CT scans reveal four-letter code to 400-year-old lock from Welsh shipwreck
- New York Post — ‘Like opening the Ark Of The Covenant’: Scientists crack code on treasure ship’s padlock — solving 400-year-old maritime mystery
- The Telegraph — Combination lock from shipwreck cracked after 400 years
- The Independent — Scientists crack code to 400-year-old padlock from shipwreck
- Popular Science — Archeologists crack a shipwreck’s 400-year-old combination lock
- Gizmodo — 400-Year-Old Shipwreck Padlock Unlocked Using CT Scans
- Archaeology Magazine — News - Code for 16th-Century Combination Lock Cracked
- Live Science — 400-year-old padlock discovered in shipwreck off Wales finally opened
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