# What's the Oldest Human-Made Object You Own? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 16, 2015, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-oldest-human-made-object-you-own/731472 "2015-09-16T14:32:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2015, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-oldest-human-made-object-you-own/731472/41 "2015-09-17T16:14:12Z")
Middle Stone Age silcrete lithic rejects (that’s stone tools that didn’t make the grade for whatever reason, or possibly only served as cores for microliths) from the Stillbaai complex. Around 100 000 BCE, give or take 10 ka. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2015, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-oldest-human-made-object-you-own/731472/42 "2015-09-17T17:38:55Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > Some coins that date back to 70BC or so. This. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2015, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-oldest-human-made-object-you-own/731472/43 "2015-09-17T17:48:53Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Middle Stone Age silcrete lithic rejects (that’s stone tools that didn’t make the grade for whatever reason, or possibly only served as cores for microliths) from the Stillbaai complex. Around 100 000 BCE, give or take 10 ka. That’s pretty awesome (and the front runner, age-wise). Is there a story as to how you got them? Were you working on an archaeological dig site? ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2015, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-oldest-human-made-object-you-own/731472/44 "2015-09-17T17:52:40Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I’m pretty sure it’s a German Mauser .32 pistol from the 1920s, supposedly brought back by my grandfather from WWII (which is slightly weird because he served in the Philippines, not in Europe). The Mauser Models 1910 and 1914 were both sold commercially. Japanese officers privately purchased their own handguns, so it might have made its way there via that route. It might also have been the property of a Philippine citizen and made its way into Japanese/American hands due to looting. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2015, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-oldest-human-made-object-you-own/731472/45 "2015-09-17T18:22:27Z")
Roman coins, like lots of other people. Lots of colonial era antiques. Quite a few 19th century rifles. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2015, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-oldest-human-made-object-you-own/731472/46 "2015-09-17T18:38:33Z")
Probably my bedroom dressers, which belonged to my great-great-great grandmother. So, mid-1800s. I will inherit several items from Revolutionary War times, including a gorgeous hot chocolate set from the 1700s, possibly the early 1800s. (When _Antiques Roadshow_ came to Boston, I tried to talk my mom into coming up with the set, because it’s fascinating to me and I’d love to know more. But no go. 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2015, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-oldest-human-made-object-you-own/731472/47 "2015-09-17T19:24:40Z")
I have a pretty glass and pitcher set that I purchased as a gift for my mom back in 1975 or so. I have photographs that are pretty old and I probably have a book or two that are pretty old as well. I think that’s about it. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2015, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-oldest-human-made-object-you-own/731472/48 "2015-09-17T19:47:24Z")
I have a first edition of a book printed in 1854. I also have some wooden beads my grandmother had in the 19th century, which may be older, for all I know. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-oldest-human-made-object-you-own/731472/49 "2015-09-18T11:25:03Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > That’s pretty awesome (and the front runner, age-wise). Is there a story as to how you got them? Were you working on an archaeological dig site? No (although I’ve been to the site they come from on a Uni field trip), they were given to me by an archaeologist friend because he knew I’d think they were cool. Not as cool as the Precambrian stromatolites and Barberton greenstones I collected myself on fieldtrips (which would be the oldest _natural_ things I own - ~1.5 Ga and ~3.6 Ga, respectively. That’s _old_). You know, I really should get my rock collection back out of storage soon. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-oldest-human-made-object-you-own/731472/50 "2015-09-18T11:53:03Z")
I have two widow’s mites (coins spoke of in the Bible - though I don’t have any idea of the dating), don’t know offhand of anything older. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-oldest-human-made-object-you-own/731472/51 "2015-09-18T12:50:59Z")
An uncle was stationed in North Africa with the Air Force, late 40’s, early 50’s. I’ve got a marble chunk that looks like it was part of a column–there are ridges. Probably from Leptis Magna, early centuries AD. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-oldest-human-made-object-you-own/731472/52 "2015-09-18T13:07:38Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > The Mauser Models 1910 and 1914 were both sold commercially. Japanese officers privately purchased their own handguns, so it might have made its way there via that route. It might also have been the property of a Philippine citizen and made its way into Japanese/American hands due to looting. Thanks – looking at the pictures, it was a 1914 model. ---
**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:** [September 18, 2015, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-oldest-human-made-object-you-own/731472/53 "2015-09-18T13:08:35Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Middle Stone Age silcrete lithic rejects (that’s stone tools that didn’t make the grade for whatever reason, or possibly only served as cores for microliths) from the Stillbaai complex. Around 100 000 BCE, give or take 10 ka. I’ve got a few of these. They’re not all that rare but infinitely cool. Oldest recent thing is an old indenture about 400 or so years old. It’s on sheepskin and still has the wax seals and such. I’ve got it framed and on display. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-oldest-human-made-object-you-own/731472/54 "2015-09-18T22:21:20Z")
We have several old books. The oldest dates from the late 1700s. We have maps that are older dating to the 1600s. We own a grandfather’s clock that my grandparents purchased as a wedding gift to each other. They were married in 1911 so it’s a bit over 100 years old. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-oldest-human-made-object-you-own/731472/55 "2015-09-20T06:21:00Z")
I have an Indian Head Penny dated 1898. ---
**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-oldest-human-made-object-you-own/731472/56 "2015-09-20T16:19:43Z")
A pre-Colombian clay figure. Or maybe some ivory netsukes. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-oldest-human-made-object-you-own/731472/57 "2015-09-20T16:25:08Z")
I have an ax from the early 1800s. Of course the handle has been replaced several times and the ax head once. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-oldest-human-made-object-you-own/731472/58 "2015-09-20T16:46:01Z")
> [@seal\_cleaner](#): > > A pre-Colombian clay figure. > Or maybe some ivory netsukes. The clay figure would be older, AFAIK netsuke date from the 17th C onwards. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-oldest-human-made-object-you-own/731472/59 "2015-09-20T17:31:48Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > The clay figure would be older, AFAIK netsuke date from the 17th C onwards. Scrimshaw? ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-oldest-human-made-object-you-own/731472/60 "2015-09-20T17:51:39Z")
I have a carved detail of a Maya structure I found at Uxmal–it’s a small face with a headdress and curlicue, possibly ornamental and not related to the face. Probably between 800-1100 AD. You’re not supposed to take things, I now know, but it was in a pile of rubble, and somehow I can’t see the use of trying to give it back. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-oldest-human-made-object-you-own/731472.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-oldest-human-made-object-you-own/731472.md?page=4)