By Fatma Younis
Experts have cracked a four-letter code to open a 16th-century brass padlock from a shipwreck off the Welsh coast using CT scanning technology.
Discovery by metal detectorist
The lock was found in 1999 by Peter Hughes, a metal detectorist from Maesteg, on Morfa beach near Margam, Port Talbot. It was part of a hoard from the Ann Francis, which sank in a storm on 28 December 1583 while returning from Spain. Hughes discovered hundreds of artefacts over 21 years, including Spanish silver coins and coin weights near the lock.
CT scanning reveals combination
After Hughes donated the hoard to Amgueddfa Cymru in 2017, researchers at Cardiff University used micro-CT scanning to examine the lock's internal mechanism. Dr David Williams, a research associate at the School of Engineering, said the team succeeded on the third scan, revealing the code "ANCE". The lock has four rings with six letters each, yielding 1,296 possible combinations.
Historical significance
Senior curators Alastair Willis and Siân Iles described the lock as in excellent condition and a rare functioning example from the period. Its proximity to the Ann Francis wreck provides tight dating. The lock likely secured a chest or small box, though its contents did not survive.
Treasure reporting rules
Under the Treasure Act 1996, finders in Wales must report potential treasure to a Finds Liaison Officer within 14 days. Failure to report can result in a fine or up to three months in prison. Reported finds are assessed by experts, and if a museum acquires the treasure, a valuation committee determines rewards.
