A miniature gold lock dated to the third to fourth centuries was found by a metal detectorist in Germany...An analysis of the tiny lock with CT scans revealed the artifact's inner workings, showcasing its high level of Roman craftsmanship and hinting at trade between northern Germany and Rome in the third century...Measuring just under half an inch (1.2 centimeters) in diameter, the tiny lock was identified by metal detector in a field in Westphalia, a region of northwestern Germany, in 2023...Experts at LWL immediately recognized the gold lock as a miniature version of regular locks made in the Roman provinces...