The Strangest Items Ever Found in Time Capsules

Not Everything in a Time Capsule Makes Sense (and That’s What Makes It Great)

From heartfelt letters to historical artefacts, time capsules are meant to preserve life as we know it. But sometimes… people leave behind the unexpected. From bizarre to downright brilliant, here are some of the strangest items ever found in time capsules, and what they say about us.

1. A Set of Fake Eyelashes (Oglethorpe University, USA)

Inside the famous Crypt of Civilization, buried in 1940 and intended to be opened in 8113, there’s a set of artificial eyelashes. Why? Apparently, they were included to showcase 20th-century fashion trends. Unexpected? Yes. Useless? Maybe. But still, iconic.

2. A Slice of Pizza (School Project, USA)

Yes, you read that right. A student once added a preserved slice of pepperoni pizza to a school time capsule. Unfortunately, the capsule wasn’t airtight… and let’s just say, future students weren’t impressed.

3. A Home Pregnancy Test Kit (Scotland, 1990s)

Discovered during a building renovation, this Scottish capsule contained a test kit, unused, alongside handwritten predictions about future family trends. It’s weird, oddly personal, and totally fascinating.

4. A Beatles Wig (Chicago Tribune Capsule, 1966)

During peak Beatlemania, someone thought a plastic mop-top wig belonged in the annals of history. Found in a capsule unearthed decades later, it had held up surprisingly well, but raised more questions than answers.

5. A Can of Beer and a Mouse (Time Capsule from Apple, 1983)

During a 1983 conference, Apple employees created a time capsule containing company memorabilia, including a can of beer and an early Lisa mouse. When unearthed in 2013, the mouse was a tech throwback. The beer? Still sealed, and very flat.

6. A Condom and Love Letter (High School Capsule, USA)

Opened during a 50-year school reunion, this capsule shocked attendees with a risqué twist: a love letter and a condom. A romantic gesture? A joke? Either way, it made headlines and got people talking.

7. A Bottle of Coca-Cola from the 1930s (Multiple Locations)

Coca-Cola, ever the marketing powerhouse, has shown up in time capsules across the globe, sometimes unopened, sometimes flat, and always carbonated history in a bottle.

8. A Tooth

Just… a tooth. No note. No explanation. Found in a public capsule in Australia in the 1970s. We’re still unsure if this was meant as a joke, a relic, or a bizarre personal keepsake.

9. A VHS of “Titanic” with No Player

In the early 2000s, someone added a Titanic VHS tape to a capsule, but no VCR to play it. It now serves as a reminder that technology moves fast, and even the most iconic films can become future puzzles.

10. A Warning to the Future

Several capsules, especially those buried during Cold War tensions, included letters warning future generations about nuclear war, pollution, and greed. They’re haunting, heartfelt, and powerful time messages from people who truly feared for what was to come.

Why This Matters

Time capsules reveal more than just what people owned, they show what mattered, what made us laugh, and what we feared. Whether it’s a lipstick or a political protest sign, every odd item tells a story.

Today, apps like TimeLock are taking that tradition digital, without the risk of pizza slices rotting underground. You can save voice notes, images, texts, and even secret messages that only unlock years from now.

So if someone in the future stumbles on your capsule… what strange item might they find?