Locking our door at night or when we leave our home is something we do automatically. It’s so crucial to us that we start to get uncomfortable at the thought of not remembering whether we’ve done it or not.
Today, door locks are all about keeping us safe.
But how about we talk a little bit about the oldest door lock?
We’ve discovered some interesting facts and we’re confident that you’re going to enjoy them.
Facts about the Oldest Door Lock
Locks have been invented because people wanted to keep intruders out and their belongings safe.
The oldest known door lock was made by the ancient Egyptians. Archaeologists found it in the Khorsabad palace ruins near Nineveh. Nineveh was an ancient Assyrian city of Upper Mesopotamia. The Egyptians were inspired by the Assyrians to create their door lock.
It’s been estimated that this well-preserved lock had somewhere around 4,000 years old. This means that it was created at least around 2000 B.C.
The Egyptian locks were remarkably similar to pin-tumbler locks. However, they were much larger than the ones we’re used to today. The biggest ones that were discovered had even two feet in length.
The main difference between the oldest door lock and the ones that were later invented was the fact that it was made entirely out of wood. This included the key as well.
These locks were made with a wooden bolt which was attached to the door. It had a slot with several holes on the upper surface.
This was attached to the door and it had wooden pins which were arranged in different patterns. Because of that, each lock was unique and it needed its own key in order to be opened.
To open the door, the wooden key would have to be inserted in the through the bolt. This would then raise the pins, and the lock would slide out.
The locks developed by the Egyptians were much more secure than the ones created later on by the Romans. One reason was due to their size.
The Romans locks used a spring rather than a bolt and they were easier to pick than the Egyptians ones.
The pin-tumbler lock is still to this day the most common type used for door locks.
Researchers believe that the Egyptians created these big door locks because they wanted to protect:
- Their belongings;
- And places of religious significance.
These Egyptians locks were so effective that actual security guards become unnecessary. Also, all the doors could be locked and unlocked only from the outside.
Egyptians Knew Their Way Around Door Locks
Even if it has not been proven, researchers believe that door locks existed prior to 2000 B.C.
However, they were probably not as resistant as those created by the Egyptians.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this article and the facts we presented about the oldest door lock.
In the end, we want you to know that we always got your back and the security of your door. If you ever need the help of a locksmith that’s near you, you can count on us.
We can repair and replace doors, frames and locks in case they have been damaged. Whenever you need our help, give us a call at 0800 0612 677.
