# Box Of Mystery Unearthed: Buried Treasure Or A Dead Cat? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 10, 2012, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/box-of-mystery-unearthed-buried-treasure-or-a-dead-cat/621540 "2012-05-10T19:02:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/box-of-mystery-unearthed-buried-treasure-or-a-dead-cat/621540/1 "2012-05-10T19:02:58Z")
My girlfriend was just doing some digging in a corner of our yard, getting ready to do some planting. A foot or so down, she hit a small, cherrywood box, about 6"x4"x3", locked with a small padlock. There is no plaque or anything else to identify the contents. She says shaking it shows there’s definitely somthing in there, but she can’t tell what. I won’t be home until this evening, and we have to rush out right away, so I might not get a chance to open it until tomorrow. So until then, what do you think – did a previous resident bury their precious jewels or are we going to find the cremated remains of a family pet? ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/box-of-mystery-unearthed-buried-treasure-or-a-dead-cat/621540/2 "2012-05-10T19:04:46Z")
They’re probably remains, but I’ll be they ain’t cremated. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/box-of-mystery-unearthed-buried-treasure-or-a-dead-cat/621540/3 "2012-05-10T19:05:49Z")
Too small for a cat. What you have there is probably your basic dead hamster. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/box-of-mystery-unearthed-buried-treasure-or-a-dead-cat/621540/4 "2012-05-10T19:07:34Z")
Pandora’s Box, 2nd edition. ---
**Author:** ![Wargamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Wargamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wargamer)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/box-of-mystery-unearthed-buried-treasure-or-a-dead-cat/621540/5 "2012-05-10T19:09:36Z")
I vote for a moldy diary detailing some young girl’s unrequited love for Bobby Sherman circa 1974. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/box-of-mystery-unearthed-buried-treasure-or-a-dead-cat/621540/6 "2012-05-10T19:09:41Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > A foot or so down, she hit a small, cherrywood box, about 6"x4"x3", locked with a small padlock. I could understand burying pet remains in a nice box, but what’s with the padlock?\* \*unless there’s something out of a Stephen King story locked in there, in which case DO NOT OPEN THE BOX. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/box-of-mystery-unearthed-buried-treasure-or-a-dead-cat/621540/7 "2012-05-10T19:11:32Z")
Zombie hamster. Explains everything. Bring a shotgun if you’re going to open it. ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/box-of-mystery-unearthed-buried-treasure-or-a-dead-cat/621540/8 "2012-05-10T19:11:48Z")
Check the lost pet notices from Mr. Schrodinger. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/box-of-mystery-unearthed-buried-treasure-or-a-dead-cat/621540/9 "2012-05-10T19:15:14Z")
I’m not so much puzzled by the padlock as the fact that the key is attached. I mean, if you padlock a box, you presumably want to be the only one to be able to open it, so you hang on to the key. But this makes no sense – either you don’t padlock it, or you padlock it and hide the key. Strange. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/box-of-mystery-unearthed-buried-treasure-or-a-dead-cat/621540/10 "2012-05-10T19:15:41Z")
Might I suggest, just to be careful, have a crucifix on hand, and maybe a wooden spike. I’m just sayin, better safe than sorry. Pictures please! (And I’m guessing journals and currency - but old unusable currency!) (PS. I feel the OP should have insisted anyone posting, to his thread, should have to take a guess at the contents of the box!) ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/box-of-mystery-unearthed-buried-treasure-or-a-dead-cat/621540/11 "2012-05-10T19:19:21Z")
don’t open it!, it’s the last seal remaining after \*\*Velma \*\*opened [The Cooler of Death](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=177712&) in 2003! ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/box-of-mystery-unearthed-buried-treasure-or-a-dead-cat/621540/12 "2012-05-10T19:19:28Z")
If it is a wooden box in good enough condition for you to be able to identify it as cherry , it can’t have been in the ground for too long. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/box-of-mystery-unearthed-buried-treasure-or-a-dead-cat/621540/13 "2012-05-10T19:20:32Z")
Could be a time capsule. Or a map to an underground museum of humanity for any post apocalyptic alien visitors. ---
**Author:** ![BigDadWolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@BigDadWolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigDadWolf)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/box-of-mystery-unearthed-buried-treasure-or-a-dead-cat/621540/14 "2012-05-10T19:20:59Z")
That sounds just like the box containing our dearly departed dog’s cremated remains (RIP Ranger - you were one good dog). My hunch is you will find a plastic bag containing ashes inside the box. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/box-of-mystery-unearthed-buried-treasure-or-a-dead-cat/621540/15 "2012-05-10T19:23:04Z")
cremated hookers (and hopefully some blow)? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/box-of-mystery-unearthed-buried-treasure-or-a-dead-cat/621540/16 "2012-05-10T19:24:05Z")
It’s a hamster, for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/box-of-mystery-unearthed-buried-treasure-or-a-dead-cat/621540/17 "2012-05-10T19:24:26Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I could understand burying pet remains in a nice box, but what’s with the padlock?\* > > \*unless there’s something out of a Stephen King story locked in there, in which case DO NOT OPEN THE BOX. :eek: Wouldn’t there be some signs to ward off evil on the box, in that case? ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21825_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/box-of-mystery-unearthed-buried-treasure-or-a-dead-cat/621540/18 "2012-05-10T19:24:46Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > cremated hookers (and hopefully some blow)? Just don’t confuse the 2 baggies in that case… ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/box-of-mystery-unearthed-buried-treasure-or-a-dead-cat/621540/19 "2012-05-10T19:41:10Z")
It’s treasure. 28 cents in small bills, to be specific. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/box-of-mystery-unearthed-buried-treasure-or-a-dead-cat/621540/20 "2012-05-10T19:47:42Z")
Teeth. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/box-of-mystery-unearthed-buried-treasure-or-a-dead-cat/621540.md?page=2)