Hidden below

10 unusual things people found buried in their backyards

Image: Evgeniy Kozlov

If you have a backyard, chances are you've wondered what might be lurking beneath its surface. While most of us will only find little more than rocks—or perhaps the remains of a long-lost pet—incredible discoveries aren’t as rare as you might think. From priceless treasures and ancient artifacts to entire forgotten graveyards, here are 10 astonishing stories of people who unearthed remarkable finds right on their own property!

Image: Rick Lobs

In Virginia, a homeowner unearthed a 150-year-old Civil War cannonball while digging. The artillery shell, found near the site of a historical battle, was over 150 years old. Such relics are not uncommon in Virginia, a state that saw more action than any other during the war. Despite their age, unexploded ordnance like this remains risky, as even after centuries these artifacts can still be active and ready to blow up.

Image: Steve Wrzeszczynski

In 2017, a man in Pombal, Portugal, uncovered the fossilized remains of a sauropod dinosaur while doing construction work on his property. Sauropods are a species of plant-eating herbivores. They are among the largest land animals ever to exist, and this particular specimen was even thought to be the largest ever found in Europe.

Image: Roman Kraft

In Massachusetts, construction work at a schoolyard uncovered a 124-year-old time capsule—a copper box about the size of a shoebox. Inside were newspapers from 1894, fragments of Civil War military uniforms, and lists of local residents who served in the war. The remarkable find was donated to a local historical society for evaluation and preservation.

Image: The DK Photography

In the UK, a man discovered an urn containing thousands of ancient Roman coins while digging a fishpond in his backyard, just four feet below the surface. Talk about striking gold! The coins were estimated to be around 1,700 years old. Roman coin hoards have been found across Britain, often dating back to the decline of the Roman Empire.

Image: Natalie

In Tampa, Florida, a family had their own "Goonies" moment while cleaning out their grandfather's attic. During spring cleaning, they discovered a box containing a tattered map of the Hillsborough River, 18th-century Spanish and Portuguese coins, a family photo—and a mysterious hand wearing an antique ring. To make it even crazier, some suggest the hand might belong to the infamous Tampa Bay pirate José Gaspar.

Image: Jerry Wei

In 1978, two Los Angeles children reportedly discovered a buried Ferrari in their backyard, thought to have been stolen years earlier. The wild story made national news, with the most surprising detail being that the car was in shockingly good condition despite its time underground. However, it was later revealed that the story was a cover-up: an informant had tipped off the police about the car's location, and the story was a plan to shield the snitch's identity.

Image: Library of Congress

In Plymouth, England, an unexploded World War II bomb was found in a garden, forcing the evacuation of 10,000 people. Bomb disposal experts took the device away and, after considering all options, decided to detonate it at sea. Unsurprisingly, the event brought the community together during the massive evacuation, with some likening the sense of unity to the "wartime spirit" of old.

Image: Jingming Pan

In a strange case from Roanne, France, a couple who had recently purchased a house found 28 gold bars buried in the garden, with an estimated value of 800,000 euros (roughly equivalent to 822,000 US dollars). However, when they attempted to sell the bars, their sudden riches drew the attention of the French anti-money laundering agency. This led to claims from the previous owners of the house, quickly turning the discovery into a legal headache.

Image: Dylan de Jonge

While renovating their home in Ames, New York, a couple uncovered a stash of Prohibition-era whiskey hidden inside the walls and floorboards. Bundles wrapped in tattered paper contained six bottles each of "Old Smuggler" Gaelic Whiskey, dating back to 1923. The house had once been owned by a German bootlegger named Adolph Humpfner, who undoubtedly left behind the secret stash for the future. A true treasure for whiskey lovers!

Image: Ashutosh Gupta

A family in Norway got more than they bargained for when searching their yard for a lost earring with a metal detector. Instead of jewelry, they uncovered relics from a Viking burial beneath a large tree. The finds included two bronze ornaments once covered in gold, possibly marking the first Viking Age (A.D. 793–1066) discovery on the island of Jomfruland. Experts even said this amazing find confirmed suspicions that the island was inhabited during the Viking period.

Literary friends

Go back to your childhood with these 10 endearing book characters!

Image: Picsea

Let’s travel back in time, all the way to our childhoods. Can you remember that magical time when playtime was the only thing that mattered? Those wonderful, countless hours spent playing and daydreaming with our friends? Still, we’d like to focus on a different type of memory: those unforgettable bedtime stories our loved ones used to read to us. With that in mind, we’ve decided to pay tribute to 10 of our favorite characters from children's books. With a bit of luck, you’ll be able to reconnect with your inner child and thank your favorite characters for all the fun times shared. Enjoy!

Image: Gilbert Ng

In the 1920s, English author A. A. Milne took inspiration from his son Christopher Robin’s toys to create what is perhaps the world’s most famous teddy bear. Pooh first appeared in the 1926 book aptly titled Winnie-the-Pooh, which was followed in 1928 by The House at Pooh Corner.

What’s perhaps most endearing about Pooh and his friends is that they truly felt like teddy bears come to life: not only were they cuddly and adorable, but they also got into all sorts of adventures with the fictionalized version of Christopher Robin.

Image: Anita Jankovic

Leave it to Dr. Seuss to create such a wonderfully strange character! The Cat in the Hat, first featured in the 1957 book of the same name, is not what you would call a reliable companion. After all, he wreaks havoc in the protagonists' house, to the dismay of their tidy and orderly goldfish.

However, when you think about it, the Cat shows up at the exact moment: on a cold and rainy day, when the children are bored and alone. In that sense, this wacky character manages to both entertain the children and us, the readers, at the same time.

Image: Nathan Dumlao

We wish we could focus only on pleasant characters, but unfortunately, it's time for the Grinch to show up! This green creature is probably Dr. Seuss’ most famous character, made iconic by a legendary 1966 Christmas special featuring the voice of Boris Karloff. While the Grinch is definitively not a nice guy at the start of the story, he (literally) has a change of heart by the end and becomes the lovely character he was always meant to be.

By the way, did you know how the Grinch got his famous green fur? In the original Dr. Seuss story, the character was depicted as white, but by the time the TV special was being produced, the animators needed to give the Grinch a color. Director Chuck Jones chose this shade of green from a (rather ugly) car he was renting at the time.

Image: Josh Applegate

Like many books in this article, it might be a tad demeaning to consider Anne of Green Gables merely a children’s book. Published in 1908, this novel is suitable for readers of all ages. That said, entire generations of children and teenagers have cherished the adventures and dreams of Anne Shirley, the redheaded 11-year-old created by Lucy Maud Montgomery.

One of the most interesting aspects of this character is that she seemed to grow alongside her readers. Anne’s life is told from her childhood up to her final years throughout the series of novels. Regardless, she’ll always be that sweet, freckled girl in the eyes of her beloved readers.

Image: Krysten Merriman

Author Eric Carle proved that it doesn’t take much to create an endearing character: You just need a small caterpillar with a large appetite. Carle’s book tells the story of "a tiny and very hungry caterpillar," from its early days to its transformation into a butterfly.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar is fondly remembered not only for its amazing illustrations but also for its simple yet catchy prose. Not only was it a huge bestseller at the time of its publication in the late '60s, but it is still recommended by bookstores all over the world.

Image: Oxana Lyashenko

Winnie the Pooh is not the only teddy bear to make it to this list! Written and illustrated by Don Freeman in 1968, Corduroy tells the delightful story of a small bear named Corduroy and the adventures he has in his search for his missing button. In the end, he finds something better: a friend named Lisa, who adopts Corduroy and takes him home.

Over 50 years after its publication, this book is still considered one of the best children's books of all time. Teachers highly recommend Corduroy since it teaches kids about friendship while also taking place in an everyday setting.

Image: julio andres rosario ortiz

Thanks to its legendary 1939 film adaptation, people tend to forget that The Wizard of Oz was first a groundbreaking children’s novel. In that sense, while Judy Garland will forever be the quintessential Dorothy Gale, we should take some time to honor the character behind such an iconic role.

In Frank L. Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Dorothy is depicted as a sweet, caring, and brave girl determined to not only return home to Kansas but also help her friends navigate the fantastical yet daunting Land of Oz.

Image: Arleen wiese

Lions understandably have a royal aura: Not only have they been featured on the coats of arms of many royal families, but they have also been portrayed as kings in films and literature. However, few fictional lions have shown the warmth, nobility, and leadership of Aslan, the powerful King of Beasts from C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia series.

In all his book appearances, Aslan has been a guiding force and a symbol of good, usually leading the human characters toward a happy ending. Perhaps most famously, Aslan helps the Pevensie siblings fight the White Witch’s rule over Narnia in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Image: Karsten Winegeart

British author Roald Dahl had the genius idea of taking something as universally loved by children as candy and making it even more whimsical. The 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory took us on a tour through Willy Wonka’s delightfully weird factory, showing us all the amazing inventions that came from the mind of this eccentric chocolatier.

While definitely a trickster, Wonka is also an extremely warm and caring character, eventually passing on his love for candy to the young Charlie Bucket. We couldn’t end this entry without paying tribute to what’s perhaps the most endearing film adaptation of this character: Gene Wilder’s portrayal of Wonka in the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.

Image: Teo Zac

We’ll end this article with a book that managed to turn monsters into some of the most beloved characters in history. Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are tells the story of a mischievous young boy named Max, who finds himself on an island inhabited by monsters known as the "Wild Things."

Thanks to its incredible illustrations, this book taught both children and adults how to find beauty in things that were previously overlooked. While at times intimidating, Sendak’s Wild Things are still lovely creatures who have charmed generations of children in the 60 years since its publication.