Decoded Combination of 16th-Century Brass Lock from Ann Francis Shipwreck Using Micro-CT Scanning
Non-destructive imaging tech is moving rapidly from medical labs into industrial inspection, letting you extract proprietary internal data from delicate hardware without altering the asset.
What happened
Cardiff University researchers and museum conservators used micro-CT scanning to read the internal notches of a 1583 Elizabethan combination padlock, unlocking the four-letter code ANCE without touching the artifact.
The Context
* A 16th-century cold case: The English merchant ship *Ann Francis* wrecked off Margam Beach in South Wales on December 28, 1583, keeping its cargo chest locked beneath the sand until recovery teams documented it alongside 800 coins. * Repurposed diagnostics: Rather than forcing the corroded brass mechanism, engineers applied high-resolution micro-computed tomography to create 3D cross-sections of the internal rings. * Immediate physical verification: Conservators aligned the letter rings to the digital blueprint, confirming the lock still turns and opens 443 years after sinking.
The Number
— The exact total of possible mechanical permutations across the lock's four six-letter rings, an encryption problem solved digitally in hours rather than through weeks of physical trial and error.
Takeaway
As industrial micro-CT scanning becomes more accessible, expect legacy asset verification and reverse engineering to shift entirely toward zero-contact digital audits.
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