I'm not sure how this discussion got started, however I think I can top the previous artifacts listed. Years ago, when I was doing an inventory of the collections of the Western Reserve Historical Society in Cleveland, Ohio (USA), I came across a petrified birthday cake in a storage closet. Since it was unaccessioned, and in a sense it was an excellent example of material culture from c. 1960, my survey team gave it a number and had it accessioned! We never did figure out how the cake had gotten there (someone must have forgotten to give it to the birthday girl/boy!). (I am not sure if the museum still has the cake in its collection) -- Robin Gabriel Director of Education Monticello, The Home of Thomas Jefferson P.O. Box 316 Charlottesville, VA 22902 (804) 984-9854 [log in to unmask]