People Wondered about the Purpose of These 10 Things & Got Unexpected Answers

As more things are invented, more things become obsolete. Still, it can be exciting to stumble upon an old or historic artifact.

However, many mystery items from days long ago have left people stumped and confused, forcing them to turn to Reddit for answers.

Here are 10 popular yet confusing objects that once served a major purpose and, in some cases, still do.

1. Wooden Box

Although wooden boxes aren’t hard to identify, this one in particular had someone stumped. It turns out the box contains little and colorful wooden slats. After asking, it soon became clear. These mystery items are actually no mystery at all and are actually still relevant today. The wooden box contains 22 slats, or “tablets,” for a total of 11 colors and a matching piece for each color. It’s a Montessori toy that helps children learn their colors and improve their matching skills, and in some cases, it can be used to provide a more comprehensive explanation to children about how certain colors are made.

2. Mystery Items that are as They Appear

Someone found a bizarre and clearly old piece of equipment in Montreal, Canada. Without recognizing it, they turned to Reddit, where someone confirmed for them these mystery items were exactly what they resembled: an unexploded artillery round. Fortunately, a bomb squad was recruited to dispose of the explosive properly.

3. Tiny Metal Spoon

Someone found this tiny metal spoon and turned to Reddit for answers. Unsurprisingly, there were a number of mixed responses, including people who joked about the mystery items and their origins. Meanwhile, others offered plausible explanations. After all, it was actually meant to serve a variety of purposes, including cleaning out ear wax or under fingernails.

4. An Odd Little Building