Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

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This iron padlock from Coppergate shows that even in Viking-age York, security was serious business! Its clever design used internal leaf springs and a key mechanism to keep belongings under lock and key — and with shiny copper and tin plating, it looked good doing it too.

See it for yourself in the JORVIK Viking Centre gallery!

#Vikings #History #Archaeology #Artefact #Museums