Rare Viking Chest or Door Lock Key

9th-11th century AD. Forged iron, a little over 3" in length. The bit with double projections and offset required inserting the key and locating the bolt within the case. The configuration indicates that the bolt was distant from the keyhole, requiring this peculiar configuration and confounding thieves. See The Mastermyr Find, pl. 4 #2 & 3 for examples of this same form found in Gotland Sweden. Of those, one grip is complex iron basketwork. The other is wood, significantly degraded, its form now obscured. This example has a fine spatulate grip, with medial ridge and nub terminal, integrally forged. The great similarity suggests that this example is also from Sweden.