# What one item to put in a time capsule to confuse future archaeologists **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 13, 2002, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-item-to-put-in-a-time-capsule-to-confuse-future-archaeologists/136586 "2002-11-13T15:41:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2002, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-item-to-put-in-a-time-capsule-to-confuse-future-archaeologists/136586/1 "2002-11-13T15:41:02Z")
What one item would you put in a time capsule to totally confuse the person who opens it? Assume the capsule would not be opened for at least 25,000 years. Preferably, it would be a stand alone product of some sort (not a part of an item). ---
**Author:** ![NutMagnet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ea5d25/32.png) [@NutMagnet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NutMagnet)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2002, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-item-to-put-in-a-time-capsule-to-confuse-future-archaeologists/136586/2 "2002-11-13T15:41:31Z")
A pet rock ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2002, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-item-to-put-in-a-time-capsule-to-confuse-future-archaeologists/136586/3 "2002-11-13T15:43:54Z")
a voting card ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2002, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-item-to-put-in-a-time-capsule-to-confuse-future-archaeologists/136586/4 "2002-11-13T15:44:11Z")
A replica of an Edina (Early Native American) pot made by my best friend using what’s believed the same techniques, including firing, that they did. Of course, said best friend is an archaeologist, so she may not go along with this. Then again, knowing her she probably would! 🙂 CJ ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2002, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-item-to-put-in-a-time-capsule-to-confuse-future-archaeologists/136586/6 "2002-11-13T15:48:03Z")
There’s always my renfaire get up. Or a collection of painted rocks Lady Chance is working on. She’s in a primitive mode having been inspired by some old cave paintings she’s seen on some TV show. ---
**Author:** ![tramp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@tramp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tramp)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2002, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-item-to-put-in-a-time-capsule-to-confuse-future-archaeologists/136586/7 "2002-11-13T15:49:14Z")
A John Holmes size vibrator. ---
**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:** [November 13, 2002, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-item-to-put-in-a-time-capsule-to-confuse-future-archaeologists/136586/8 "2002-11-13T15:51:23Z")
A straight razor with a hand-chipped flint edge. ---
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2002, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-item-to-put-in-a-time-capsule-to-confuse-future-archaeologists/136586/9 "2002-11-13T15:52:02Z")
Photo of Carrot Top labeled “Our Lord And Savior” ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2002, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-item-to-put-in-a-time-capsule-to-confuse-future-archaeologists/136586/10 "2002-11-13T15:53:18Z")
ohmy! I was about to say Carrot Topp. This is weird… ---
**Author:** ![agentfroot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@agentfroot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/agentfroot)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2002, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-item-to-put-in-a-time-capsule-to-confuse-future-archaeologists/136586/11 "2002-11-13T15:57:50Z")
tamagotchi, complete with batteries ---
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2002, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-item-to-put-in-a-time-capsule-to-confuse-future-archaeologists/136586/12 "2002-11-13T16:03:53Z")
Now imagine a time capsule with ALL of these items in it. What kind of society would they piece together? ---
**Author:** ![Mort\_Furd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mort\_Furd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mort_Furd)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2002, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-item-to-put-in-a-time-capsule-to-confuse-future-archaeologists/136586/13 "2002-11-13T16:27:34Z")
An Elvis painting on black velvet ---
**Author:** ![Genseric](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Genseric](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genseric)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2002, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-item-to-put-in-a-time-capsule-to-confuse-future-archaeologists/136586/14 "2002-11-13T18:47:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Legomancer \* > \*\*Now imagine a time capsule with ALL of these items in it. What kind of society would they piece together? \*\* I would think they’d pretty much nail it right on the noggin’. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2002, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-item-to-put-in-a-time-capsule-to-confuse-future-archaeologists/136586/15 "2002-11-13T18:57:27Z")
Can’t we put in the “Dogs Playing Poker” painting? It’s my favorite. Really. NO - it IS!! ---
**Author:** ![scott\_evil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@scott\_evil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scott_evil)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2002, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-item-to-put-in-a-time-capsule-to-confuse-future-archaeologists/136586/16 "2002-11-13T20:49:07Z")
A color printout of [this](http://www.anomalies-unlimited.com/Jackson.html) web page. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2002, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-item-to-put-in-a-time-capsule-to-confuse-future-archaeologists/136586/17 "2002-11-13T21:00:34Z")
A stone box with “James, Brother of Jesus” chiseled on the face. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2002, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-item-to-put-in-a-time-capsule-to-confuse-future-archaeologists/136586/18 "2002-11-13T21:15:35Z")
To really confuse them, I’d throw in a woolly mammoth skeleton. Maybe pack hamburger all around it so it’d have some “fresh” meat on it. Maybe they’d think we had giant cows roaming the earth. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2002, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-item-to-put-in-a-time-capsule-to-confuse-future-archaeologists/136586/19 "2002-11-13T21:16:12Z")
Another time capsule, marked “do not open for another 25,000 years.” ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2002, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-item-to-put-in-a-time-capsule-to-confuse-future-archaeologists/136586/20 "2002-11-13T21:20:32Z")
A “Buddy Christ” Statuette and a copy of Dogs Barking Jingle Bells. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2002, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-item-to-put-in-a-time-capsule-to-confuse-future-archaeologists/136586/21 "2002-11-13T21:23:29Z")
Can we put Bjork in it? Please? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-item-to-put-in-a-time-capsule-to-confuse-future-archaeologists/136586.md?page=2)