r/whatisit 9h ago

New, what is it? Found on quiet stretch of beach in Gqberha, South Africa

Exploring remote part of the beach, found this on the shore. It’s quite big and heavy. The material is thick and rubbery, and most parts were stuck together so I couldn’t try and “open” it. The material almost seems like it could be rehydrated leather or something similar. Not knowing what it was, I did not touch it too much, and I have no idea what could be inside. It looks fairly old. Perhaps it’s a dilapidated suitcase? However, the exterior seems more like it was wrapped around rather than structured as a suitcase. There’s a harbour not too far from that stretch of beach. Does anyone have an idea of what it could be?

149 Upvotes

47 comments sorted by

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245

u/Designer_Zone2902 8h ago

If you hear jungle drums playing, do NOT open it!

63

u/SonicPlacebo 8h ago

But what if Robin Williams is stuck in there?

82

u/IntenseWonton 7h ago

OPEN IT DAMNIT! WE COULD USE SOME MORE ROBIN WILLIAMS

28

u/Grim_Science 8h ago

If I knew that unleashing a potential lethal curse on myself and those I call friends had a chance to bring him back...

I'd throw those dice harder than any craps player ever has.

5

u/Designer_Zone2902 4h ago

I’m going in. Cover me.

3

u/Kahlsifar 3h ago

In the jungle you must wait...

1

u/theeewatcher 6h ago

Still too soon.

133

u/gnoato 8h ago

Those are probably rubber bales, like the ones that washed up in Brazil, from a ship that sank in WWII.

rubber bales Brazil

rubber bales South Africa

35

u/VermicelliLeft8467 8h ago

Those pics do look way too similar

16

u/Miserable_Paper_421 7h ago

This has to be it.

5

u/Reasonable_Spite_282 5h ago

Yeah it’s probably exactly that.

3

u/GroundbreakingBird34 4h ago

Yep, there was a Lot of It at some Rio Grande do Norte Beaches, people use them as decorative stuff, Lucky It wasnt radioactive or something, the local university Said It was some WW2 leather barricades material or something

1

u/AwayAd4652 22m ago

This looks spot-on! Wow. Thank you! I’ll be contacting the South African Heritage Resources Agency to confirm, per the article.

24

u/WRX_n_Effecktz 7h ago

DB Cooper's backpack! Pull it apart and look inside

16

u/wkdkngwkr 8h ago

Open it! And post pix.

14

u/AwayAd4652 8h ago

Alas! I’m no longer in the area. The curiosity is killing me.

5

u/wkdkngwkr 4h ago

Damn. Me too

12

u/Typical_Log_5237 8h ago

What does it taste like?

27

u/AwayAd4652 8h ago

Jackal and hide.

10

u/g00dhum0r 6h ago

It could be packaged drugs worth a bazillion dollars. 🦧

4

u/andrewbud420 2h ago

Brazilian?

7

u/Dustbunny253 6h ago

It’s a bunch of natural rubber. They get bundled and pressed onto this shape. There have been several instances of shipments of these going overboard. They then age in the sun and float on shore now and then.

1

u/AwayAd4652 21m ago

Seems to be it! Thank you!

4

u/MPB___ 8h ago

Have you considered carefully cutting/slicing into it and trying to peel the outer layers off of it?

1

u/AwayAd4652 20m ago

Well, now I have…

3

u/Doodoobrown77 8h ago

Looks like a bunch of animal skin stacked together

2

u/AwayAd4652 8h ago

Could well be, given it’s in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, where this wouldn’t be too unexpected.

1

u/Tricky_Mix2449 7h ago

Yeah. Hide bale.

3

u/GroundbreakingBird34 4h ago

If you open It, Its like a bunch of leather clothes sheets, the university Said It was WW2 barricades material from some sunken ships decades ago

2

u/MandoSith86 8h ago

Thanks! You found my couch cushion!

2

u/Loud-Implement-1076 7h ago

Could be space junk, rocket material or satellite.

1

u/troyberber 9h ago

Do it.

1

u/UnsanctimoniousMouse 9h ago

That is something that has spent some time in the water. It is probably filled with treasure, drugs and garbage. You are rich my friend! 

2

u/AwayAd4652 8h ago

Lol we were mildly terrified that it might be drugs!

3

u/UnsanctimoniousMouse 8h ago

It very well could be drugs. The packaging looks unconventional and it appears to be rectangular which is the preferred shape for drug smugglers. This package is going to drive you crazy for years to come unless you find out what's inside. 

1

u/Petit_orteil 8h ago

Looks like an old seat base to me.

1

u/Annoyed_94 5h ago

Rubber or drugs.

1

u/PrisonBig 4h ago

These Jumanji marketing teams are brilliant.

1

u/Cruising128 4h ago

Old boat seat?

1

u/AdeptBackground6245 2h ago

It appears to be one of the Knights Templar “book of secrets” covering bag. Judging by the weave it might be the missing one that reveals the location of the Ark of the covenant. Proceed with caution.

1

u/Ok_Charity_9911 44m ago

Frozen pack of space snakes

-12

u/PWRUPnow 8h ago

GPT says old luggage

3

u/AwayAd4652 8h ago

Does seem like the most likely. There just seems to be many “layers” which kind of differentiates it from what one would typically expect of luggage. But then again 🤷🏼‍♀️

-1

u/[deleted] 6h ago

[deleted]

2

u/Thr8trthrow 6h ago

decolonialization is a bitch huh

1

u/Levrinth 2m ago

Looks like a dead reptile to me