Archaeologists don’t just dig up prehistoric objects. Between 2007 and 2009, the owner of this now corroded USB memory stick – excavated from a muddy secondary school playing field in Hendon, north London in 2012 – loaded it with Amy Winehouse music, clips of Bhangra dancers from Britain’s Got Talent, and content from adult websites. But this also raises the question of how we interpret the information contained within archaeological objects.

If this object was discovered in 200 years' time – and if it was still readable – would we still be able to access the data inside to give us that snapshot?

Image: Pitt Rivers Museum