An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c11.s12.1

v1.c11.s12.1

Locks and keys are referred to in the *Cullavagga* as *yantaka-sūcika* but have been rarely found in excavations. Keys have been found at Sirkap and later sites of Taxila. Specimens of locks and keys come from SANCHI and are datable to the 4th-5th century and later on from NĀLANDĀ. The specimens have a spring and push type device with a very simple mechanism: four flexible springs at the end of the bolts are made to pass through a small hole inside the lock case which has a hole in the rear plate for insertion of the bolt with a hole in the opposite end to permit the key to be inserted for operation of the lock. The SIPPUR ones (*c.* 700) have a spring and push type in two different shapes, viz. circular and rectangular in cross-section, representing the type often found in the Roman world.