Iron, intricately and skillfully made of multiple pieces with copper brazed joints. About 2 7/8” height with triangular body housing the mechanism. The face with a tubular keyway for additional security. The shank intact and frozen in place. See The Mastermyr Find, which illustrates the contents of a Viking tool chest recovered in Gotland Sweden. Plate 19 illustrates several very similar padlocks. A lock of this size could secure a door hasp and it is precisely suitable for securing chains and shackles for slave traders. Vikings were very active slavers, raiding coastal Mediterranean towns and selling the captives in North Africa. As well, is it said that every Viking homestead would have had an outbuilding for one or more slaves. Professionally conserved with some losses to the metal.
