Innovation No. 22 of 77 in the book
The Door Lock
A wooden pin-tumbler lock invented thousands of years before modern versions
- When
- c. 1500 BCE
- Dynasty
- 18th Dynasty
- Era
- New Kingdom
The pin-tumbler lock — the exact mechanism Yale ‘invented’ in 1861 and put on doors worldwide — was already working on Egyptian doors by around 1500 BCE, in the New Kingdom.
A wooden bolt held a set of loose pins that dropped into holes and jammed it shut. The right key, a wooden bar with matching pegs, lifted each pin to just the right height and freed the bolt.
That is the same principle inside the lock on your front door right now, only in bronze and steel.
Egypt didn’t invent the idea of a lock — it invented the one we still use.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the earliest archaeological evidence for the door lock in ancient Egypt?
The earliest confirmed evidence dates to approximately 1500 BCE during Egypt's New Kingdom (18th Dynasty). The pin-tumbler lock — the exact mechanism Yale ‘invented’ in 1861 and put on doors worldwide — was already working on Egyptian doors by around 1500 BCE, in the New Kingdom.
How did ancient Egyptians develop the door lock, and what is its legacy?
A wooden bolt held a set of loose pins that dropped into holes and jammed it shut. The right key, a wooden bar with matching pegs, lifted each pin to just the right height and freed the bolt. A wooden bolt held a set of loose pins that dropped into holes and jammed it shut. The right key, a wooden bar with matching pegs, lifted each pin to just the right height and freed the bolt. Egypt didn’t invent the idea of a lock — it invented the one we still use.