VIKING SLAVE LOCK KEY

10th-11th century AD. Very finely forged example, 3 5/8” length. Tapered square section shank, stepped to spatulate form with pierced angular terminal, the shank with the ridged triangular segment below forged closed loop. Opposite with an upturned double key bit. Excellent conserved condition and the best we have seen. Vikings were very active slavers with the typical Viking household having a slave dwelling outbuilding. It is estimated that by 1100, ten percent of Europe’s population was enslaved.