# Code cracked for shipwreck padlock solving 400-year-old mystery

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-11-04 10:00 UTC · Category: World

## Executive Summary
Experts crack the code on a 400-year-old padlock recovered from a shipwreck off Wales.

## Intelligence Brief
Recent coverage details a significant maritime archaeological breakthrough regarding a centuries-old artifact. Experts have successfully cracked the code of a combination padlock that was discovered inside a shipwreck located off the coast of Wales. According to reports from multiple outlets, the locking mechanism dates back four hundred years and originates from a sixteenth-century vessel. For more than two decades, the puzzle surrounding the sealed lock remained unsolved until specialists applied modern technology to examine its internal structure. Various media organizations have reported extensively on the discovery and the subsequent decoding process.


Specific reports emphasize the utilization of state-of-the-art computed tomography scans, commonly known as CT scans, which allowed scientists to reveal the four-letter code hidden within the mechanism without damaging the historic artifact. Context provided across the coverage highlights the prolonged nature of the investigation. The puzzle persisted for more than twenty years before experts finally unlocked the artifact, generating widespread public interest and comparisons to significant historical openings in some reporting. The artifact itself is tied to a treasure ship from the maritime past, adding weight to the historical significance of the deciphered combination. Institutional involvement includes work linked to Cardiff University, alongside contributions from various archaeological experts and scientific teams.


As the story continues to circulate across international media, future coverage will likely track further revelations regarding the contents secured by the padlock or additional details concerning the identity of the shipwreck itself. Current reports do not yet specify what, if anything, was found inside the locked compartment once the four-letter combination was successfully resolved by the scanning technology. Observers and researchers will continue to monitor academic releases from the participating institutions for subsequent findings.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| Yahoo | 400-year-old padlock discovered in shipwreck off Wales finally opened | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimwFBVV95cUxOTE5jdTRYUDItMkIwd2JlUlhEalZLTGpHaFhILVh5VzFYcDFxOUZ5STlrTEVoVVo0SXVVWnBhb19SRWdOTXoyMHpTLU5qcTIyZnBGMGlSRG51T1R0LVVGVGRtckpjcGMybVJ6VDA5Mm4yek05MFdCR09fNjFUbnJVNGlUUmxrc0pDeG9lT1ZuQk5xdzAwRF9CclBfUQ?oc=5) |
| The Mountain Press | Experts crack code to unlock 400-year-old lock found in shipwreck | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMigwJBVV95cUxNTGpxZmw0eE8zYTRreGl1NWFYejYxMU5TMFZnOUU3ZmRVaVJ0TW00bzltZXZiUE5iMVh4ZTNXUHAwSmg2YW5MLWNscWJEbGFleWtTQ2hsMUdjN2d0VUwyOWEwQ1hPSklwWUc3SEE4ZFgzV0RnRmtlSEtBY3RlMjVrazBSRHBWaFJYYWtkZ1FKUWdlSVphOVEwTFhLSkVRdzlVOUJVenNEWDMwTU1vbjl1YWl6c1p3akIyejBGQjJSVmVqNnRTRlcxUXczeGtUQV9VS1RjeWtaRVJtR2lTSDlEeGlUM3BNRUJhOTN6cS1PNmE4a3Y2N0p0d2F4Q1dNSXo1OUNn?oc=5) |
| ZME Science | Scientists Used CT and Finally Opened a 400-Year-Old Lock From a Welsh Shipwreck | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiyAFBVV95cUxOVF9NMFpNcVZEblB4SW1McG5HOE93NHNWSXJyWFhrbGZOMVRqUy1sR1hUc0dJMTlyZUVjUUplb3dXRzBtekF2bDFSbmtfbDc0cXh2UlhlRGpzUGNTNlkya0VpbXV2TUYxMmF4M3NLUXZpYlIwSkZsNFFVWXk2UzEzZzhXd05PaUFjQkl6bGlUUTBlVHNuandDOUhTTHppeDVNMGx4ZWFNcUx5bE5MaGN4YTVQOU9nQ1JuNEtldmhWVDNjSzRGeVdNWg?oc=5) |
| Live Science | 400-year-old padlock discovered in shipwreck off Wales finally opened | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiwgFBVV95cUxNSkxVSTJVUWVnM3dsUDhXTG90MEMwX2pnYTk3dFkzMXQ0bUFQZWhpVGJqNUVSNzVGV0pJdDNMcXd5ZXRKWWMzSkZuclMzVUE4Z2ozUHBlZ0t3bDRDd3BiQzBBbmVUcjlnZEl3RGVONGNSeWVab0kweFAwVllRdmkxdHZFc0lKYzRaa3g2Nm5uT3U4ajZhTm81SkFNVzRMMW5WbXdYVGxIaVZqVWRxTE5XOWdEVU1KUV85a25Ia085R3RmZw?oc=5) |
| Good News Network | 400-yo Shipwreck Puzzle Finally Cracked After More Than 20 Years of Mystery | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMixgFBVV95cUxNT1pwUDhzWG5HOWlDNEtlOXliQTlvU0gtUFZmVXFOZXp5VkFhZm5ienFoaUdNZU93UllwYllkWFRVSzRLN0dZc0hQWkU4LVdQZHJyeEdNOUlLT0UyQzNqQ2RBVFc1c2QtMlFDMUh6QWhrTVRva1N4S096N2dBaFR6Tm9ORU1kaTdQOXJFQVF0Y2I2OHZyZUlpOGl6OE9KelU0TEFQR3RnRjRDMVRHSnc2aDFfUUV1QnRVWHdCNnlhOVVIaDkwb2c?oc=5) |
| Archaeology Magazine | News - Code for 16th-Century Combination Lock Cracked | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikAFBVV95cUxQUmw4ZzFUOFRaSDBkM1BjcGh6ck41dGpMRC0yY0NQQ2RCODlDY19iY1VHVDIzbUM1T2U5MVh5NnV2MUE5VXhWY1RhZTJkc1kyRzJINEJXVVdxaUJneVpYVW9obkpBeEpuWEh5cllyNlN2QXJPakEzZzZyTHY4Mk1TUjQ1azZ3VFhRWW1wTlBEYW0?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | Archeologists crack a shipwreck’s 400-year-old combination lock | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMinAFBVV95cUxPLVVlTTRWWE8tNEp1aXlid0daMkFrSzJtbDNtRk15bW1SbkNoYmxleEdZMWdVcDREbFZHMlJlX2VRLXQwU2dWM3V5SHZfZ3R6RS0yc1VzalAwUk5BM0syTmRhYy0zcGh5RE9IcmI5YVRhV25Ea1F3aFc3b1ZnSDhkSFFFNzlOSy0yRlU4QlQ3NkQzcHREeEVLMmh3clE?oc=5) |
| Popular Science | Archeologists crack a shipwreck’s 400-year-old combination lock | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMifkFVX3lxTE1Ma1VEeE5MX2lmRVF4VXhQNENsUmZKZlkwOEd0RnpiWkdQSk81TDRfZUktemo5ZHc0QXl5SWhrOXpuWUdJa01tMzBTR2I0WnVlMmUzMmxfZk15bXBLVkh4cEdSc2pkOHYtVE91VHZVcXBHSmoxTXZsOWtOYmtzUQ?oc=5) |
| Phys.org | CT scans reveal four-letter code to 400-year-old lock from Welsh shipwreck | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMib0FVX3lxTFBrQ0plNUxLWmF4TUliZk9DUllTdl9SZllQdkg2UWdiNTl4RzhFaG84bGZndkdjYUwxN3B5MzRDSzV3RTh6UlFpR2JERHREY3hCZmozbHVHc0c1VjBkTTl4SjIzX2k3ZWdKZTR4endvZw?oc=5) |
| 뉴스웍스 | Decoding the code of a padlock found on a shipwreck from 400 years ago...Utilizes state-of-the-art CT scans | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMibEFVX3lxTE8tb19GTGx0WUpMeTlFWFdwbHAwQWk2UDFkVzVXYjZOTVN4SnpYbElUWFQtNjExX29jV0VxUVlZT0stWU44UkVJTTdwV2ZRVzhLdHNISHNXRmxsdE1FSnF1WDRhLU12UzFDeW8yMA?oc=5) |
| New York Post | ‘Like opening the Ark Of The Covenant’: Scientists crack code on treasure ship’s padlock — solving 400-year-old maritime mystery | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMinwFBVV95cUxQbUFtRm9NSG5ZckJKOGllTEFXUjlxMV92YmZLWEFvdG95SjcyV2hONlcxZmluTm0zMVJtMTFGVXR2SkpBTERpQnVTQUtDOXMtanJ1VFdHT3VQeTFzdUFKTkVRMGF0YUw1UE5VSUxCSUN3T1pqZWN2SzVwMTJ1MG05SkFiUHZ4ZW9tc1dBUlF1QmRZX21SMjJLY0puRFBnaDA?oc=5) |
| The Telegraph | Combination lock found on shipwreck cracked after 400 years | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipAFBVV95cUxOVnd1ZGw1VGhJZDQ3Z2xMZTFWOUQzYk5kOVJfYk9ud3BXVFl3SnBuN0dpSmVqd25UWFJFd1FUbDVYalAwNlJES3d6VThSbDVOY0swYXNmN3dpUVMteTl2WW1zdzJYOVJ2UHl0eEdLWEJnYmwweXowOGVESmwwNG5tWlA0cXd2cWRpNF9xdEJNVC1NdWpxVWw3Z00wa2tvSktTY3cxMA?oc=5) |
| Nation.Cymru | Scientists crack code of 400-year-old lock found on Welsh shipwreck | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimgFBVV95cUxQM3pFYWEzU2JudC00dklPSE1COEwtVHNxdmxuek40ajJJNkdsb1BxTXJGOWpmcGgyLWxnclNXaS1xM25UWEpidUZWUFBCOU1iUmhZSmhiLVJqSEhnclFBc2J5emVZZzFWcDRXSVBUY3RUMUw0alFUaTZDdjhzY21USGRULWd1cXFQZTJuT2VFTjUwUmRwcXduWTV3?oc=5) |
| Cardiff University | CT scans help unlock 400-year-old mystery | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijgFBVV95cUxOTFZXZmZJQTltZGpZUW1tSG11SlQxdU5ldHYxYUcyN1ZMaEFmLWI5SjlJR2U0Znpzbjc4M2R3c1ZJd0xxeG1FUlQ0dFE2MzBYVFliaHYzYmwzSXpRM0ZGWjhCVllqT2dWcU45ZmZPaHI5UDVOc3BOSmh2U1IwWF9uQi1USDRNOG5lbFNqMVVB?oc=5) |
| The Independent | 400-year-old mystery solved as experts crack shipwreck padlock code | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMingFBVV95cUxPVVplWkZzY1ZRZzZhbTlRM01nbU5Xc2l3OHRxeTM0Nk4xQUlPWDM5eHdVSzQ1RlVwSzExXzJDVlZlaFdyYlpuVnUyQzFIVmdoNzNSalMzX0taY3R6d3VILU4wdWVQTEFQVXp3OW1xbTVWRmk3Zk5UcUcxTE5QVksxa3pmWXY0dWdzbFNxb2hnN3pFeWQtV3cybHNnMTIyUQ?oc=5) |

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