Keys from Ancient Roman Britain

[greyman]

I was in the northern part of the UK on a holiday the other day, near a place called Hexham. There is an achaeological dig site there called Vindolanda. They have made some amazing discoveries of artefacts buried for nearly 2000 years in the clay from ancient Roman settlement days at Hadrian's Wall. Among the aterfacts there were some Roman keys and locks. Here are the photos of the keys that I took (I was going to take some more photos but I got asked to put my camera away!).

This is an early warded lock key:


These are Egyptian type keys (I think):


What did the Romans ever do for us?

[Eyes_Only]

Looks like the Egyptians slept easier than the Romans judging from those two pictures.

[thubanpete]

<scoops jaw up off the floor>

Okaaayyyy....If those were the keys, I feel sorry for the Egyptian and Roman locksport enthusiasts.

[freakparade3]

I did some research on the history of locks. It's very amazing some of the concepts that were put into security back then.

[Kaellman]

I did some research on the history of locks. It's very amazing some of the concepts that were put into security back then.

I know. Some of these locks was a great inspiration source for locksmithts from the early 1800s. For example Stansburys pushpin lock.

[raimundo]

I could pick that, I could pick that! and that, that, that, oooh, whats that high security?

[Kaellman]

hahaha! keep in mind that you'll prolly need a frekkin demeled shovel to be able manipulate those rusty oldtimers.

[greyman]

Looks like the Egyptians slept easier than the Romans judging from those two pictures.

Yes, but all of these keys were being used in the same place at the same time by the ancient Romans at Vindolanda. I have no idea who used what keys. Perhaps the warded one was higher security and used by the commanding officer at the camp or something.

Weren't the Egyptian keys made out of wood, not iron?

[keysman]

similiar keys are found on e-bay . search for " roman key"

[ponsaloti]

This post has bought a little tear to my eye.

[jordyh]

I could pick that, I could pick that! and that, that, that, oooh, whats that high security?

[LockNewbie21]

I liked the booby traped door locks the used to have.. i want that on my door, pick it wrong.. off with your hand or head

[n2oah]

similiar keys are found on e-bay . search for " roman key"

Unfortunately, they are only replicas.

[Marco]

I liked the booby traped door locks the used to have.. i want that on my door, pick it wrong.. off with your hand or head

Or even better, we could recommend these types of locks to any noob who annoys us on this site

( i know i can't talk because i still consider myself to be a noob )

[Raccoon]

I could pick that, I could pick that! and that, that, that, oooh, whats that high security?

Hehe, of course. You were around when those locks were still in use!