Cryptography Challenge
Five exhibits at National Museum of Scotland have been written in code! Can you use your code breaking skills to find out what they are?
Created by Open University Faculty of STEM
Have a go at the Cryptography Challenge. Five exhibits at the National Museum of Scotland have been written in code! Can you use your code breaking skills to find out what they are?
Created by Open University Faculty of STEM
Update October 2025: The Cryptography Challenge is now also available featuring five objects from the National Museum of Flight.
Answers
The answers to the Cryptography Challenges can be found below. You can find out more about each exhibit by following the links underneath each answer.
National Museum of Scotland Cryptography Challenge
Challenge 1
Lewis Chessmen
Challenge 2
Tyrannosaurus Rex
Challenge 3
Dolly the Sheep
Challenge 4
Traprain Treasure
Challenge 5
Khnumhotep's Coffin
National Museum of Flight Cryptography Challenge
Challenge 1
Cierva Autogiro
Challenge 2
Irvin Jacket
Challenge 3
Green Goddess
Challenge 4
de Havilland Comet
Challenge 5
Supermarine Spitfire
Create Your Own Challenge
As well as decoding the exhibits at the National Museum of Scotland, you can also have a go at encrypting your own secret messages. Download a copy of the five ciphers to help you.
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