Crypt of Civilization

[xoxoxoBruce]

Alan Bellows (hot pastrami) wrote an article on his Damn Interesting site, about a time capsule called the "Crypt of Civilization". The "crypt", sealed in 1940 and not to be opened until 8113 A.D, is at Oglethorpe University in Georgia.

Inventory of the Crypt of Civilization
5 phonograph records (transcriptions)
2 bird records (songs of birds)
3 records in album
5 records (miscellaneous)
General Gannett and Acompo 8 records
1 transcription (Premier of Canada)
phonograph records in 2 boxes - History of Mines - 37 10" records, 2 12" records
1 container of beer (about one quart)
1 plastic bird, 1 plastic ash tray
1 beetle plastic ornament and bowl
1 vanity make-up mirror with light
11 miscellaneous recordings
6 recordings (Artie Shaw)
6 recordings (Richard Himber)
1 plastic savings bank
3 plastic pieces (miscellaneous)
1 plastic display case for watch
1 set Lionel model train (6 cars, I track)
1 cigarette holder
1 model air conditioner apparatus
1 box of eight plastic samples
1 set of scales (hand)
1 Ingraham pocket watch
1 Regen's cigarette lighter
1 Ingraham wrist watch (woman's)
1 sample of gold mesh
1 Gen-A-Lite flashlight
1 Toastolator (electric)
1 Monroe calculator
1 set Lincoln Logs (toys)
1 mannikin (female) in glass case
1 mannikin (male) in glass case
1 telephone instrument dial phone (desk type)
10 samples of textile upholstery
4 samples plated plastics
1 3-cell flash light
Audio Scriptions (2 records of Dr. Jacobs' voice)
1 pencil painting
1 cut and 2 illustrations from cut
1 set Helios (game board and pieces)
2 carved glass panels
1 set Bridgeomatic (game)
2 micro-film readers and 2 micro-films (Oglethorpe Book of Georgia Verse)
1 obstetrical model (2 pieces)
1 set graduates (sealed)
1 Micarta gear
1 package containing 6 miniature panties, 5 miniature shirts, 3 drawers
1 sample plastic radio case
2 Lennox china vases, 1 blue china bowl
1 Emerson radio
1 sample of aluminum foil
1 sample technicolor film on display card
1 abrasive wheel (Aloxite)
4 skeins of rayon, 1 electric iron
2 electric lighting fixtures and 2 acetate shades
1 set of binoculars in leather case
1 recording transcription, King Gustav of Sweden
6 transcriptions "We, the People" radio show
1 Kodak (small) camera
1 plastic drinking glass holder
1 sample of catlinite
1 Schick Electric Razor (set)
1 sample of Lucite
1 Comptometer, Ser. no. J246635
2 ashtrays, plastic forms of gears
1 package Butterick dress patterns
1 DuPrene glove (rubber substitute)
1 set silver plate 1847 Rogers, I knife, 1 fork, 1 spoon
1 copy of The New York Herald-Tribune (especially prepared copy)
1 Masonic deposit (5 badges, I metal plaque in case, sealed)
1 glass jar containing 2 pen holders, 3 pencils, 1 slide rule and instructions, 1 set colored crayons, 1 plastic ruler, 1 fountain pen and pencil set, 6 corks
1 glass refrigerator dish and cover
1 Mazda lamp exhibit (component parts)
1 model Edison's original and 1 Mazda lamp
1 package assorted wearing apparel
1 package samples of laces and ribbons
1 pair ladies stockings
1 package - 1 towel, 3 washcloths
1 framed painting (roses reproduction)
1 framed picture (reproduction, painting of a house)
1 package containing 6 wood and plastic pictures
1 rafia covered glass powder jar
1 sample of soap (figure of a bull)
1 package assorted hair pins
1 package containing 6 pieces, assorted costume jewelry
1 glass jar containing miscellaneous ornaments and 4 berets, 1 hair net, 1 clip
1 glass jar containing 1 hair bow, 1 gem razor, 1 package blades, 1 shaving brush, 2 powder puffs, 2 compacts, 3 samples powder, 1 eyebrow brush, 3 lipsticks, 1 hair remover, 1 toothbrush, 1 rouge, 1 nail brush, 1 ivory stick, 1 pair manicure scissors, 1 eyelash curler, 5 hair curlers, 1 package dental floss, 1 pair tweezers, 1 package Mallene, 1 package corn pads eye cup, 1 set artificial finger nails, 1 set artificial eyelashes, 1 package playing cards, 1 set Bridge tally cards
1 package containing 2 combs, 1 change carrier, 1 package of paper cleaning pads, 1 identification book, 1 pair dark glasses, 1 lady's comb, 4 pair shoe laces, 2 pair shoulder straps, 1 flashlight, 2 dice, 1 cigar holder, 1 cigarette holder
1 package containing 5 spools of silk thread, 1 crochet hook, 1 thimble, 2 packages needles, 2 packages rickrack, 2 packages bias binding
1 package of samples oil cloth
1 lady's breast form
1 package cellophane dish covers, 3 belts, 1 package 2nd carbon copy of teletype news
1 yellow china bowl, 7 "What-Not" ornaments, 1 package picture hooks, curtain rings and ends, 1 napkin and napkin ring
6 packages wooden forks and spoons set toy paints, 1 tea bowl, 1 package fish hooks, 1 package drapery pins, 1 June bug spinner, 1 package curtain rings, 1 fly, 2 toy watches, 1 pocket knife
2 smoking pipes, 1 bottle Vaseline
1 porcelain figure, 2 small glass ornaments, glass coal scuttle
1 small glass vase, 1 glass teakettle
1 package paper clips, 1 package cellophane ribbon, 1 set measuring spoons, 1 doughnut cutter, 1 plastic salt and pepper shaker set, plastic picture frame, 1 set Curtain holdbacks
1 toy whistle, 1 golfball, 1 cake of soap
1 cover for milk bottle, 1 plastic knife, fork and spoon, 1 salad fork and spoon
1 funnel, 1 barometer, 1 glass container and cover, 1 scouring pad, 1 package of marbles, 3 outlets, 1 socket plug, 1 switch, 1 Pull chain socket, 3 house numbers, 1 rule, 1 can opener
1 carving knife and fork, 1 rule, 1 screwdriver
1 grapefruit corer, 1 potato masher, 1 ladle, 1 spoon, 1 pancake turner
1 asbestos mat, 1 red china plate
1 glass bookend (girl's head)
1 toy automobile, 1 toy stagecoach, 1 image of Buddha (incense burner)
1 small china plate, 1 small china bowl, 1 glass rolling pin,
1 package rayon chemicals
1 piece sheet music, 1 sample of mahogany treated with bakelite varnish orange reamer and bowl, 1 glass water bottle for refrigerator, 1 package paper drinking cups
1 coffee set (drip coffee maker, cream and sugar), 1 cream and sugar set, 1 flower holder, 2 Pyrex dishes, 1 covered china bowl, 5 drinking glasses, 1 wine glass
1 whiskey glass jigger, 1 liquor measure (jigger and cup), 1 vase, 1 set measuring cups, 4 red glass goblets, 1 Willow ware cup and saucer, 1 pottery bowl, 1 kitchen brush, 1 toilet brush
1 candlestand (candle and globe), 1 package soap and miscellaneous items (sealed)
1 sales ticket register, 1 Detrola radio
1 fishing rod, 1 badminton set and net
1 package fly swatter, coat hanger, etc.
1 assortment of cuff links, buttons, etc. (sealed), 8 packages assorted buttons
5 handkerchiefs, and silk scarves
1 Yankee screwdriver, 1 screwdriver and special screws
12 packages Rayon-Component parts and displays, 1 watt-hour meter, 1 tube rayon thread, 1 set of 6 radio tubes
1 toy pistol, 1 pinball game, 1 toy airplane
1 Negro doll, 1 toy flying gyro, 1 wrecker
1 toy greyhound bus, 1 tractor, 2 dolls (white), 1 1-one Ranger, 1 ambulance
1 Donald Duck, 1 set toy tools, 1 toy tank, 1 pacifier, 1 bubble pipe, 1 rattle
1 toy equestrian, 18 toy soldiers, 12 toy civilians, 1 toy cannon, 2 muses, 1 anti-aircraft gun, 1 set samples of better ware
1 blotter, 1 inkwell (sealed)
1 DuPrene sample (artificial rubber)
1 sample ILICite (plastic) 1 sample textile (cotton), 1 sample of rayon cloth
1 auto-point pencil, 8 Voca-films
1 transcription (Roosevelt, 11 parts)
1 transcription (King Edward VIII)
1 package Masonite (sealed)
1 denture (Lipper), 1 box samples of Micarta (sealed), 1 box samples of carpets, 1 crystalite, 10 rings
5 Iconoscape television tubes
Spectacle frames, buckles, 8 auto handles, bottle caps, beads, 22 miscellaneous plastic samples, 9 color samples tennite, 1 sample insulation, 1 distributor head cover, 1 thermometer case
1 instrument panel, 7 samples Formica
14 samples Formica (set)
1 set A-C spark plugs (sealed)
1 plastic flute

[Aliantha]

Hmmm...I doubt anyone will be around to open it by then. Maybe those alien life forms or something.

I kinda think maybe it'll be like in that movie "A.I.". Probably just the robots opening it and talking silently amongst themselves.

[skysidhe]

I dunno. So much plastic!

I wonder what other time machines are out there and ITS contents.


Why don't you think people will be around then ali?

[Elspode]

Now there's a batch of stuff that is guaranteed to confuse the shit out of any future civilization that opens it.

[BrianR]

lady's breast form???

[bluecuracao]

If the Earth goes into an ice age, the beer will explode all over everything.

[Clodfobble]

All those records, and no record player?? Someone wasn't thinking very far ahead.

[JuancoRocks]

Guess they won't need the quarter for the needle either.

[TheMercenary]

Strange list, very strange list.

[lumberjim]

i say we use that list for the worlds stupidest scavenger hunt ever.

post a picture of you with each item until you have them all.

[wolf]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Alan Bellows (hot pastrami) wrote an article on his Damn Interesting site, about a time capsule called the "Crypt of Civilization". The "crypt", sealed in 1940 and not to be opened until 8113 A.D, is at Oglethorpe University in Georgia.

Damn, bruce, how did you trick them into cleaning out your basement?

[xoxoxoBruce]

Unfortunately they welded the door shut before I was born... but I'm working on it.

[Clodfobble]

I was about to ask, but then found the answer in the article:

The target year for the crypt's future opening– 8113 A.D.– was arrived at by considering 1936 to be the halfway point to the future. 6,177 years had passed since the Egyptian calendar had been established in 4241 B.C., so Dr. Jacobs projected forward the same number of years from the date of his idea's birth.

Another very (I mean damn) interesting bit:

In the event that the Crypt of Civilization is opened by people who do not speak English as we know it, the room includes numerous pictographic representations of information, perhaps the most important of which describing the operation of the vault's "language integrator"– the first piece of technology that one should encounter upon entering this technology tomb. Ironically, it seems that much of the information regarding this machine has been lost to the eroding effects of time, but it is said that this hand-powered English-teaching device was inspired by the Rosetta stone, yet based on the "Nickelodeon principle." It's vocabulary consists of only 1,500 words, a subset of our language called "Basic English" which was used in cryptographic codes in the first World War.

[wolf]

I hope that this is sealed better than the time capsule with the car in it.

[Aliantha]

sky...I don't hold out much hope for human civilization.