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For over a quarter-century, the American Museum of Natural History has hosted an event known as Identification Day, encouraging visitors to bring in mysterious items found in their homes, gardens, or nature. This year, the event takes place on Saturday, May 9. Dominic Davis, Public Programs Coordinator in the museum’s Education Department, explains, 'ID Day originated from the frequent requests by the public to have unknown objects and artifacts identified by our scientists. The event aims to showcase the diverse scientific departments and ongoing research at the Museum. It also provides a unique chance for scientists to engage with the public and display seldom-seen collections.'
Typically, around 2500 attendees visit the museum on ID Day, with staff identifying over 150 objects. (Note: No appraisals are offered—this isn’t Antiques Roadshow!) Those who successfully identify their items receive a certificate and the chance to snap a photo with the museum’s bronze bust of Theodore Roosevelt.
However, not every item brought to the museum turns out to be a treasure. 'Many visitors bring what they believe to be arrowheads or meteorites, only to discover they’re ordinary rocks,' Davis notes. 'We also encounter old artifacts that were mass-produced for commercial purposes. While the findings may not always meet expectations, the thrill of discovery keeps the excitement alive.'
Carl Mehling, Senior Scientific Assistant in the museum’s Division of Paleontology, notes that the museum’s specialists have often corrected misconceptions about supposed treasures, such as fake trilobite fossils from Morocco, plastic imitations of carved ivory, and the classic ‘dinosaur egg’ that’s actually just a rock. (He recalls a memorable case where a visitor brought in what they believed was a bedbug, only to find out it was a live shiny spider beetle, Gibbium aequinoctiale—thankfully!)
Despite the possibility of disappointment, visitors are encouraged to bring their mysterious items to ID Day. After all, they might uncover something truly remarkable, as the following examples demonstrate.
1. A FOSSILIZED WALRUS SKULL
Kit Kennedy discovered this fossil on a Virginia beach and brought it to the museum for identification, eventually donating it in 2000. The fossilized skull likely belongs to Odobenus rosmarus, the same species as modern walruses, though Mehling notes that only the front of the skull remains, making precise identification challenging. He estimates its age to be Pleistocene, though its exact geological context is unknown. 'Given its modern appearance and the lack of similar species at the time, it’s reasonable to assume it’s a walrus,' Mehling explains. 'Fossil evidence suggests walruses once roamed as far south as North Carolina.'
2. A STONE HAND AXE
This ancient axe, unearthed in a Staten Island backyard, is estimated to be at least 3000 years old. Anibal Rodriguez, an Anthropology associate and longtime ID Day participant, explains, 'Hand axes like this can date back to the Archaic period, ranging from 2000 to 8000 years BP.' Crafted likely from basalt, the tool was used for crushing and chopping. Rodriguez adds that pinpointing its creator is impossible due to the numerous tribes that inhabited the area.
3. A 100 MILLION YEAR OLD BRAZILIAN FISH FOSSIL
Discovered in a New Jersey backyard in 2002, this fossil sparked curiosity about how a Brazilian fish ended up so far north. Mehling clarifies, 'Fossils travel wherever people go, and this one was likely purchased in the 20th century and later lost.'
4. PIECES OF 17TH CENTURY BRICKS
While brick fragments may seem mundane, their origin story is fascinating. In the 17th and 18th centuries, ships used bricks as ballast to stabilize their cargo holds during voyages. These bricks were discarded at ports to make room for goods. In 2013, a visitor brought shells and beach debris from Trinidad’s Maracas beach to ID Day, including colonial-era bricks. The yellow bricks suggest they originated in the Netherlands, over 4500 miles away.
5. AN AMERICAN PELICANSFOOT
Contrary to its name, this specimen is a deep-sea snail, not a bird. The name likely comes from its resemblance to a pelican’s foot. These creatures inhabit deep waters, making their shells rare finds on shore. In 2012, a visitor brought a nearly full-grown juvenile shell to ID Day, marking an exceptional discovery.
If you plan to bring an item to ID Day, check out the helpful video below for guidelines on acceptable items and preparation tips.
